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053 


DIALSTONE    LANE 


DIALSTONE  LANE 


BY 
W.    W.   JACOBS 


McKINLAY,  STONE  &  MACKENZIE 
NEW  YORK 


Copyright,  1904,  by 
W.  W.   JACOBS 


Copyright,  1904,  by 
CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SOWS 

All  rights  reserved 

Published,  Norember,  1904 


DIALSTONE    LANE 


CHAPTER    I 

MR.  EDWARD  TREDGOLD  sat  in  the 
private  office  of  Tredgold  and  Son,  land 
and  estate  agents,  gazing  through  the 
prim  wire  bhnds  at  the  peaceful  High  Street  of  Bin- 
chester.  Tredgold  senior,  who  believed  in  work  for 
the  young,  had  left  early.  Tredgold  junior,  glad  at 
an  opportunity  of  sharing  his  father's  views,  had 
passed  most  of  the  work  on  to  a  clerk  who  had  ar- 
rived in  the  world  exactly  three  weeks  after  himself. 
"  Binchestergets  duller  and  duller,"  said  Mr,  Tred- 
gold to  himself,  wearily.  "  Two  skittish  octogenari- 
ans, one  gloomy  baby,  one  gloomier  nursemaid,  and 
three  dogs  in  the  last  five  minutes.  If  it  wasn't  for 
the  dogs—    Halloa  !  " 

He  put  down  his  pen  and,  rising,  looked  over  the 
top  of  the  blind  at  a  girl  who  was  glancing  from  side 
to  side  of  the  road  as  though  in  search  of  an  address. 

I 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  A  visitor,"  continued  Mr.  Tredgold,  critically. 
"  Girls  like  that  only  visit  Binchester,  and  then  take 
the  first  train  back,  never  to  return." 

The  girl  turned  at  that  moment  and,  encountering 
the  forehead  and  eyes,  gazed  at  them  until  they  sank 
slowly  behind  the  protection  of  the  blind. 

"  She's  coming  here,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  watch- 
ing through  the  wire.  "  Wants  to  see  our  time-table, 
I  expect." 

He  sat  down  at  the  table  again,  and  taking  up  his 
pen  took  some  papers  from  a  pigeon-hole  and  eyed 
them  with  severe  thoughtfulness. 

"  A  lady  to  see  you,  sir,"  said  a  clerk,  opening  the 
door. 

Mr.  Tredgold  rose  and  placed  a  chair. 

"  I  have  called  for  the  key  of  the  cottage  in  Dial- 
stone  Lane,"  said  the  girl,  still  standing.  "  My  uncle. 
Captain  Bowers,  has  not  arrived  yet,  and  I  am  told 
that  you  are  the  landlord." 

Mr.  Tredgold  bowed.  "  The  next  train  is  due  at 
six,"  he  observed,  with  a  glance  at  the  time-table 
hanging  on  the  wall;  "  I  expect  he'll  come  by  that. 
He  was  here  on  Monday  seeing  the  last  of  the  furni- 
ture in.    Are  you  Miss  Drewitt?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  girl.  "  If  you'll  kindly  give  me 
the  key,  I  can  go  in  and  wait  for  him." 

Mr.  Tredgold  took  it  from  a  drawer.  "If  you 
will  allow  me,  I  will  go  down  with  you,"  he  said, 

2 


Dialstone  Lane 

slowly;  "  the  lock  is  rather  awkward  for  anybody  who 
doesn't  understand  it." 

The  girl  murmured  something  about  not  troubling 
him. 

"  It's  no  trouble,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  taking  up 
his  hat.  "  It  is  our  duty  to  do  all  we  can  for  the  com- 
fort of  our  tenants.    That  lock " 

He  held  the  door  open  and  followed  her  into  the 
street,  pointing  out  various  objects  of  interest  as  they 
went  along. 

"  I'm  afraid  you'll  find  Binchester  very  quiet,"  he 
remarked. 

"  I  like  quiet,"  said  his  companion. 

Mr.  Tredgold  glanced  at  her  shrewdly,  and,  paus- 
ing only  at  the  Jubilee  horse-trough  to  point  out  beau- 
ties which  might  easily  escape  any  but  a  trained  obser- 
vation, walked  on  in  silence  until  they  reached  their 
destination. 

Except  in  the  matter  of  window-blinds,  Dialstone 
Lane  had  not  changed  for  generations,  and  Mr.  Tred- 
gold noted  with  pleasure  the  interest  of  his  companion 
as  she  gazed  at  the  crumbling  roofs,  the  red-brick 
doorsteps,  and  the  tiny  lattice  windows  of  the  cottages. 
At  the  last  house,  a  cottage  larger  than  the  rest,  one 
side  of  which  bordered  the  old  churchyard,  Mr.  Tred- 
gold paused  and,  inserting  his  key  in  the  lock,  turned 
it  with  thoughtless  ease. 

"The   lock    seems    all    right;    I   need   not   have 

3 


Dialstone  Lane 

bothered  you,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  regarding  him 
gravely. 

"  Ah,  it  seems  easy,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  shaking 
his  head,  "  but  it  wants  knack." 

The  girl  closed  the  door  smartly,  and,  turning 
the  key,  opened  it  again  without  any  difficulty.  To 
satisfy  herself — on  more  points  than  one — she  re- 
peated the  performance. 

"  YouVe  got  the  knack,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  meet- 
ing her  gaze  with  great  calmness.  "  It's  extraordi- 
nary what  a  lot  of  character  there  is  in  locks;  they  let 
some  people  open  them  without  any  trouble,  while 
others  may  fumble  at  them  till  they're  tired." 

The  girl  pushed  the  door  open  and  stood  just  inside 
the  room. 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said,  and  gave  him  a  little  bow 
of  dismissaL 

A  vein  of  obstinacy  in  Mr.  Tredgold's  disposition, 
which  its  owner  mistook  for  firmness,  asserted  itself. 
It  was  plain  that  the  girl  had  estimated  his  services  at 
their  true  value  and  was  quite  willing  to  apprise  him 
of  the  fact.  He  tried  the  lock  again,  and  with  more 
bitterness  than  the  occasion  seemed  to  warrant  said 
that  somebody  had  been  oiling  it. 

*'  I  promised  Captain  Bowers  to  come  in  this  after- 
noon and  see  that  a  few  odd  things  had  been  done," 
he  added.    "  May  I  come  in  now?  " 

The  girl  withdrew  into  the  room,  and,  seating  her- 

4 


Dialstone  Lane 

self  in  a  large  arm-chair  by  the  fireplace,  watched  his 
inspection  of  door-knobs  and  window-fastenings  with 
an  air  of  grave  amusement,  which  he  found  somewhat 
trying. 

"  Captain  Bowers  had  the  walls  panelled  and  these 
lockers  made  to  make  the  room  look  as  much  like  a 
ship's  cabin  as  possible,"  he  said,  pausing  in  his  la- 
bours. "  He  was  quite  pleased  to  find  the  staircase 
opening  out  of  the  room — he  calls  it  the  companion- 
ladder.  And  he  calls  the  kitchen  the  pantry,  which 
led  to  a  lot  of  confusion  with  the  workmen.  Did  he 
tell  you  of  the  crow's-nest  in  the  garden?  " 

"  No,"  said  the  girl. 

"  It's  a  fine  piece  of  work,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold. 

He  opened  the  door  leading  into  the  kitchen  and 
stepped  out  into  the  garden.  Miss  Drewitt,  after  a 
moment's  hesitation,  followed,  and  after  one  de- 
lighted glance  at  the  trim  old  garden  gazed  curiously 
at  a  mast  with  a  barrel  fixed  near  the  top,  which  stood 
at  the  end. 

"  There's  a  fine  view  from  up  there,"  said  Mr. 
Tredgold.  "  With  the  captain's  glass  one  can  see  the 
sea  distinctly.  I  spent  nearly  all  last  Friday  afternoon 
up  there,  keeping  an  eye  on  things.  Do  you  like  the 
garden?  Do  you  think  these  old  creepers  ought  to  be 
torn  down  from  the  house?  " 

"  Certainly  not,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  with  emphasis. 

"  Just  what   I   said,"    remarked   Mr.   Tredgold. 

5 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Captain  Bowers  wanted  to  have  them  pulled  down, 
but  I  dissuaded  him.  I  advised  him  to  consult  you 
first." 

"  I  don't  suppose  he  really  intended  to,"  said  the 
girl. 

"  He  did,"  said  the  other,  grimly;  "  said  they  were 
untidy.  How  do  you  like  the  way  the  house  is 
furnished?  " 

The  girl  gazed  at  him  for  a  few  moments  before 
replying.     "  I  like  it  very  much,"  she  said,  coldly. 

"  That's  right,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  with  an  air  of 
relief.  "  You  see,  I  advised  the  captain  what  to  buy. 
I  went  with  him  to  ToUminster  and  helped  him 
choose.  Your  room  gave  me  the  most  anxiety,  I 
think." 

"  My  room  ?  "  said  the  girl,  starting. 

"  It's  a  dream  in  the  best  shades  of  pink  and  green," 
said  Mr.  Tredgold,  modestly.  "  Pink  on  the  walls, 
and  carpets  and  hangings  green ;  three  or  four  bits  of 
old  furniture — the  captain  objected,  but  I  stood  firm; 
and  for  pictures  I  had  two  or  three  little  things  out  of 
an  art  journal  framed." 

"  Is  furnishing  part  of  your  business?  "  inquired 
the  girl,  eyeing  him  in  bewilderment. 

"  Business?  "  said  the  other.  "  Oh,  no.  I  did  it 
for  amusement.  I  chose  and  the  captain  paid.  It 
was  a  delightful  experience.  The  sordid  question  of 
price  was  waived;  for  once  expense  was  nothing  to 

6 


Dialstone  Lane 

me.  I  wish  you'd  just  step  up  to  your  room  and  see 
how  you  like  It.    It's  the  one  over  the  kitchen." 

Miss  Drewitt  hesitated,  and  then  curiosity,  com- 
bined with  a  cheerful  idea  of  probably  being  able  to 
disapprove  of  the  lauded  decorations,  took  her  in- 
doors and  upstairs.  In  a  few  minutes  she  came  down 
again. 

"  I  suppose  it's  all  right,"  she  said,  ungraciously, 
"  but  I  don't  understand  why  you  should  have  selected 
it." 

"  I  had  to,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  confidentially.  "  I 
happened  to  go  to  Tollminster  the  same  day  as  the 
captain  and  went  into  a  shop  with  him.  If  you  could 
only  see  the  things  he  wanted  to  buy,  you  would 
understand." 

The  girl  was  silent. 

"  The  paper  the  captain  selected  for  your  room," 
continued  Mr.  Tredgold,  severely,  "  was  decorated 
with  branches  of  an  unknown  flowering  shrub,  on  the 
top  twig  of  which  a  humming-bird  sat  eating  a  dragon- 
fly. A  rough  calculation  showed  me  that  every  time 
you  opened  your  eyes  In  the  morning  you  would  see 
fifty-seven  humming-birds — all  made  in  the  same  pat- 
tern— eating  fifty-seven  ditto  dragon-flies.  The  cap- 
tain said  It  was  cheerful." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  that  my  uncle's  selection  would 
have  satisfied  me,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  coldly. 

"The  curtains  he  fancied  were  red,  with  small 

7 


Dialstone  Lane 

yellow  tigers  crouching  all  over  them,"  pursued  Mr. 
Tredgold.     *'  The  captain  seemed  fond  of  animals." 

"  I  think  that  you  were  rather — venturesome,"  said 
the  girl.  "  Suppose  that  I  had  not  liked  the  things 
you  selected?  " 

Mr.  Tredgold  deliberated.  "  I  felt  sure  that  you 
would  like  them,"  he  said,  at  last.  "  It  was  a  hard 
struggle  not  to  keep  some  of  the  things  for  myself. 
Vve  had  my  eye  on  those  two  Chippendale  chairs  for 
years.  They  belonged  to  an  old  woman  in  Mint 
Street,  but  she  always  refused  to  part  with  them.  I 
shouldn't  have  got  them,  only  one  of  them  let  her 
down  the  other  day." 

"  Let  her  down?  "  repeated  Miss  Drewitt,  sharply. 
"  Do  you  mean  one  of  the  chairs  in  my  bedroom?  " 

Mr.  Tredgold  nodded.  "  Gave  her  rather  a  nasty 
fall,"  he  said.  "  I  struck  while  the  iron  was  hot,  and 
went  and  made  her  an  offer  while  she  was  still  laid  up 
from  the  effects  of  it.  It's  the  one  standing  against 
the  wall;  the  other's  all  right,  with  proper  care." 

Miss  Drewitt,  after  a  somewhat  long  interval, 
thanked  him. 

"  You  must  have  been  very  useful  to  my  uncle,"  she 
said,  slowly.  "  I  feel  sure  that  he  would  never  have 
bought  chairs  like  those  of  his  own  accord." 

"  He  has  been  at  sea  all  his  hfe,"  said  Mr.  Tred- 
gold, in  extenuation.  "  You  haven't  seen  him  for  a 
long  time,  have  you?  " 

8 


Dialstone  Lane 


"  Ten  years,"  was  the  reply. 

"  He  is  delightful  company,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold. 
*'  His  life  has  been  one  long  series  of  adventures  in 
every  quarter  of  the  globe.  His  stock  of  yarns  is  like 
the  widow's  cruse.     And  here  he  comes,"  he  added, 

as  a  dilapidated  fly   ^ — -r \ 

drew  up  at  the  house  ^^^a^^  I 

and  an  elderly  man, 
with  a  red,  weather- 
beaten  face,  partly 
hidden  in  a  cloud  of 
grey  beard,  stepped 
out  and  stood  in  the 
doorway,  regarding 
the  girl  with  some- 
thing almost  akin  to 
embarrassment. 

"It's  not  —  not 
Prudence  ?  "  he  said 
at  length,  holding 
out  his  hand  and 
staring  at  her. 

"Yes,  uncle," 
said  the  girl. 

They  shook 
hands,  and  Captain 
Bowers,  reaching  up 
for  a  cage  contain-  prudence. 


Dialstone  Lane 

ing  a  parrot,  which  had  been  noisily  entreating 
the  cabman  for  a  kiss  all  the  way  from  the  station, 
handed  that  flustered  person  his  fare  and  entered 
the  house  again. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  my  lad,"  he  said,  shaking  hands 
with  Mr.  Tredgold  and  glancing  covertly  at  his  niece. 
"  I  hope  you  haven't  been  waiting  long,"  he  added, 
turning  to  the  latter. 

"  No,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  regarding  him  with  a 
puzzled  air, 

**  I  missed  the  train,"  said  the  captain.  "  We  must 
try  and  manage  better  next  time.  I — I  hope  you'll 
be  comfortable." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  the  girl. 

*'  You — you  are  very  like  your  poor  mother,"  said 
the  captain. 

"  I  hope  so,"  said  Prudence. 

She  stole  up  to  the  captain  and,  after  a  moment's 
hesitation,  kissed  his  cheek.  The  next  moment  she 
was  caught  up  and  crushed  in  the  arms  of  a  powerful 
and  affectionate  bear. 

"  Blest  if  I  hardly  knew  how  to  take  you  at  first," 
said  the  captain,  his  red  face  shining  with  gratifica- 
tion. **  Little  girls  are  one  thing,  but  when  they  grow 
up  into " — he  held  her  away  and  looked  at  her 
proudly — "  into  handsome  and  dignified-looking 
young  women,  a  man  doesn't  quite  know  where  he  is." 

He  took  her  In  his  arms  again  and,  kissing  her  fore- 

lO 


Dialstone  Lane 

head,  winked  delightedly  in  the  direction  of  Mr.  Tred- 
gold,  who  was  affecting  to  look  out  of  the  window. 

"  My  man'U  be  in  soon,"  he  said,  releasing  the  girl, 
"  and  then  we'll  see  about  some  tea.  He  met  me  at 
the  station  and  I  sent  him  straight  off  for  things  to 
eat." 

"  Your  man?  "  said  Miss  Drewitt. 

*'  Yes;  I  thought  a  man  would  be  easier  to  manage 
than  a  girl,"  said  the  captain,  knowingly.  "  You  can 
be  freer  with  'em  in  the  matter  of  language,  and  then 
there's  no  followers  or  anything  of  that  kind.  I  got 
him  to  sign  articles  ship-shape  and  proper.  Mr.  Tred- 
gold  recommended  him." 

"  No,  no,"  said  that  gentleman,  hastily. 

"  I  asked  you  before  he  signed  on  with  me,"  said 
the  captain,  pointing  a  stumpy  forefinger  at  him.  *'  I 
made  a  point  of  it,  and  you  told  me  that  you  had  never 
heard  anything  against  him." 

"  I  don't  call  that  a  recommendation,"  said  Mr. 
Tredgold. 

"  It's  good  enough  in  these  days,"  retorted  the 
captain,  gloomily.  "  A  man  that  has  got  a  character 
like  that  is  hard  to  find." 

"  He  might  be  artful  and  keep  his  faults  to  him- 
self," suggested  Tredgold. 

"  So  long  as  he  does  that,  it's  all  right,"  said  Cap- 
tain Bowers.  "  I  can't  find  fault  if  there's  no  faults 
to  find  fault  with.    The  best  steward  I  ever  had,  I 

II 


Dialstone  Lane 

found  out  afterwards,  had  escaped  from  gaol.  He 
never  wanted  to  go  ashore,  and  when  the  ship  was  in 
port  almost  lived  in  his  pantry," 

**  I  never  heard  of  Tasker  having  been  in  gaol," 
said  Mr.  Tredgold.  **Anyhow,  I'm  certain  that  he 
never  broke  out  of  one;  he's  far  too  stupid." 

As  he  paid  this  tribute  the  young  man  referred  to 
entered  laden  with  parcels,  and,  gazing  awkwardly  at 
the  company,  passed  through  the  room  on  tiptoe  and 
began  to  busy  himself  in  the  pantry.  Mr.  Tredgold, 
refusing  the  captain's  invitation  to  stay  for  a  cup  of 
tea,  took  his  departure. 

"  Very  nice  youngster  that,"  said  the  captain,  look- 
ing after  him.  *'  A  little  bit  light-hearted  in  his  ways, 
perhaps,  but  none  the  worse  for  that." 

He  sat  down  and  looked  round  at  his  possessions. 
"  The  first  real  home  I've  had  for  nearly  fifty  years," 
he  said,  with  great  content.  "  I  hope  you'll  be  as 
happy  here  as  I  intend  to  be.  It  sha'n't  be  my  fault 
if  you're  not." 

Mr.  Tredgold  walked  home  deep  in  thought,  and 
by  the  time  he  had  arrived  there  had  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  if  Miss  Drewitt  favoured  her  mother, 
that  lady  must  have  been  singularly  unlike  Captain 
Bowers  in  features. 


12 


CHAPTER    II 

IN  less  than  a  week  Captain  Bowers  had  settled 
down  comfortably  In  his  new  command.  A  set 
of  rules  and  regulations  by  which  Mr.  Joseph 
Taskcr  was  to  order  his  life  was  framed  and  hung 
in  the  pantry.  He  studied  it  with  care,  and,  anxious 
that  there  should  be  no  possible  chance  of  a  misunder- 
standing, questioned  the  spelling  in  three  instances. 
The  captain's  explanation  that  he  had  spelt  those 
words  in  the  American  style  was  an  untruthful  reflec- 
tion upon  a  great  and  friendly  nation. 

Dialstone  Lane  was  at  first  disposed  to  look 
askance  at  Mr.  Tasker.  Old-fashioned  matrons  clus- 
tered round  to  watch  him  cleaning  the  doorstep,  and> 
surprised  at  its  whiteness,  withdrew  discomfited.  Ru- 
mour had  it  that  he  liked  work,  and  scandal  said  that 
he  had  wept  because  he  was  not  allowed  to  do  the 
washing. 

The  captain  attributed  this  satisfactory  condition 
of  affairs  to  the  rules  and  regulations,  though  a  slight 
indiscretion  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Tasker,  necessitating 
the  unframing  of  the  document  to  add  to  the  latter, 
caused^  him  a  little  annoyance. 

The  first  intimation  he  had  of  it  was  a  loud  knock- 
13 


Dialstone  Lane 

ing  at  the  front  door  as  he  sat  dozing  one  afternoon 
in  his  easy-chair.  In  response  to  his  startled  cry  of 
**  Come  in!  "  the  door  opened  and  a  small  man,  in  a 


•'  Old-fashioned  matrons  clustered  round  to  watch  him  cleaning  the  doorstep.** 

State  of  considerable  agitation,  burst  into  the  room 
and  confronted  him. 

"  My  name  is  Chalk,"  he  said,  breathlessly. 

14 


Dialstone  Lane 

"A  friend  of  Mr.  Tredgold's?  "  said  the  captain. 
■"  I've  heard  of  you,  sir." 

The  visitor  paid  no  heed. 

"  My  wife  wishes  to  know  whether  she  has  got  to 
dress  In  the  dark  every  afternoon  for  the  rest  of  her 
hfe,"  he  said,  In  fierce  but  trembling  tones. 

"  Got  to  dress  In  the  dark?  "  repeated  the  aston- 
ished captain. 

*'  With  the  bhnd  down,"  explained  the  other. 

Captain  Bowers  looked  him  up  and  down.  He  saw 
a  man  of  about  fifty  nervously  fingering  the  little  bits 
of  fluffy  red  whisker  which  grew  at  the  sides  of  his 
face,  and  trying  to  still  the  agitation  of  his  tremulous 
mouth. 

"  How  would  you  like  it  yourself?  "  demanded  the 
visitor,  whose  manner  was  gradually  becoming  milder 
and  milder.  "  How  would  you  like  a  telescope  a  yard 
long  pointing " 

He  broke  off  abruptly  as  the  captain,  with  a 
smothered  oath,  dashed  out  of  his  chair  into  the 
garden  and  stood  shaking  his  fist  at  the  crow's-nest 
at  the  bottom. 

*'  Joseph  !  "  he  bawled. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Tasker,  removmg  the  tele- 
scope described  by  Mr.  Chalk  from  his  eye,  and 
leaning  over. 

"What  are  you  doing  with  that  spy-glass?  "  de- 
manded his  master,  beckoning  to  the  visitor,  who  had 

:J5 


Dialstone  Lane 

drawn  near.     "  How  dare  you  stare  in  at  people's 
windows?  " 

"  I  wasn't,  sir,"  replied  Mr.  Tasker,  in  an  injured 
voice.  "I  wouldn't  think  o'  such  a  thing — I  couldn't, 
not  if  I  tried." 

"  You'd  got  it  pointed  straight  at  my  bedroom 
window,"  cried  Mr.  Chalk,  as  he  accompanied  the 
captain  down  the  garden.  "  And  it  ain't  the  first 
time." 

"  I  wasn't,  sir,"  said  the  steward,  addressing  his 
master.  "  I  was  watching  the  martins  under  the 
eaves." 

"You'd  got  it  pointed  at  my  window,"  persisted 
the  visitor. 

"  That's  where  the  nests  are,"  said  Mr.  Tasker, 
"  but  I  wasn't  looking  in  at  the  window.  Besides,  I 
noticed  you  always  pulled  the  blind  down  when  you 
saw  me  looking,  so  I  thought  it  didn't  matter." 

"  We  can't  do  anything  without  being  followed 
about  by  that  telescope,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  turning  to 
the  captain.  "  My  wife  had  our  house  built  where  it 
is  on  purpose,  so  that  we  shouldn't  be  overlooked. 
We  didn't  bargain  for  a  thing  like  that  sprouting  up 
in  a  back-garden." 

"  I'm  very  sorry,"  said  the  captain.  "  I  wish  you'd 
told  me  of  it  before.  If  I  catch  you  up  there  again," 
he  cried,  shaking  his  fist  at  Mr.  Tasker,  **  you'll 
remember  it.     Come  down  1  " 

i6 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Tasker,  placing  the  glass  under  his  arm,  came 
slowly  and  reluctantly  down  the  ratlines. 

"  I  wasn't  looking  in  at  the  window,  Mr.  Chalk," 
he  said,  earnestly.  "  I  was  watching  the  birds.  O' 
course,  I  couldn't'help  seeing  in  a  bit,  but  I  always 
shifted  the  spy-glass  at  once  if  there  was  anything  that 
I  thought  I  oughtn't " 

"  That'll  do,"  broke  in  the  captain,  hastily.  "  Go 
in  and  get  the  tea  ready.  If  I  so  much  as  see  you  look- 
ing at  that  glass  again  we  part,  my  lad,  mind  that." 

"  I  don't  suppose  he  meant  any  harm,"  said  the 
mollified  Mr.  Chalk,  after  the  crestfallen  Joseph  had 
gone  into  the  house.  "  I  hope  I  haven't  been  and  said 
too  much,  but  my  wife  insisted  on  me  coming  round 
and  speaking  about  it." 

"  You  did  quite  right,"  said  the  captain,  "  and  I 
thank  you  for  coming.  I  told  him  he  might  go  up 
there  occasionally,  but  1  particularly  warned  him 
against  giving  any  annoyance  to  the  neighbours." 

**  I  suppose,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  gazing  at  the  erec- 
tion with  interest — "  I  suppose  there's  a  good  view 
from  up  there?  It's  like  having  a  ship  in  the  garden, 
and  it  seems  to  remind  you  of  the  North  Pole,  and 
whales,  and  Northern  Lights." 

Five  minutes  later  Mr.  Tasker,  peering  through 
the  pantry  window,  was  surprised  to  see  Mr.  Chalk 
ascending  with  infinite  caution  to  the  crow's-nest.  His 
high  hat  was  jammed  firmly  over  his  brows  and  the 

17 


Dialstone  Lane 

telescope  was  gripped  tightly  under  his  right  arm. 
The  journey  was  evidently  regarded  as  one  of  extreme 
peril  by  the  climber;  but  he  held  on  gallantly  and, 
arrived  at  the  top,  turned  a  tremulous  telescope  on  to 
the  horizon. 

Mr.  Tasker  took  a  deep  breath  and  resumed  his 
labours.  He  set  the  table,  and  when  the  water  boiled 
made  the  tea,  and  went  down  the  garden  to  announce 
the  fact.  Mr.  Chalk  was  still  up  aloft,  and  even  at 
that  height  the  pallor  of  his  face  was  clearly  discern- 
ible. It  was  evident  to  the  couple  below  that  the  ter- 
rors of  the  descent  were  too  much  for  him,  but  that  he 
was  too  proud  to  say  so. 

"  Nice  view  up  there,"  called  the  captain. 

"B — b — ^beautiful,"  cried  Mr.  Chalk,  with  an 
attempt  at  enthusiasm. 

The  captain  paced  up  and  down  impatiently;  his 
tea  was  getting  cold,  but  the  forlorn  figure  aloft  made 
no  sign.  The  captain  waited  a  little  longer,  and  then, 
laying  hold  of  the  shrouds,  slowly  mounted  until  his 
head  was  above  the  platform. 

"  Shall  I  take  the  glass  for  you?  "  he  inquired. 

Mr.  Chalk,  clutching  the  edge  of  the  cask,  leaned 
over  and  handed  it  down. 

"  jVIy — my  foot's  gone  to  sleep,"  he  stammered. 

**Ho!  Well,  you  must  be  careful  how  you  get 
down,"  said  the  captain,  climbing  on  to  the  platform. 
**  Now,  gently." 

^8 


Dialstone  Lane 

He  put  the  telescope  back  into  the  cask,  and,  beck* 
oning  Mr.  Tasker  to  ascend,  took  Mr.  Chalk  in  a 
firm  grasp  and  lowered  him  until  he  was  able  to  reacb 
Mr.  Tasker's  face  with  his  foot.  After  that  the  de- 
scent was  easy,  and  Mr.  Chalk,  reaching  ground  once 
more,  spent  two  or  three  minutes  in  slapping  and  rubb- 
ing, and  other  remedies  prescribed  for  sleepy  feet.        ^ 

"  There's  few  gentlemen  that  would  have  come 
down  at  all  with  their  foot  asleep,"  remarked  Mr. 
Tasker,  pocketing  a  shilling,  when  the  captain's  back 
was  turned. 

Mr.  Chalk,  still  pale  and  shaking  somewhat,  smiled 
feebly  and  followed  the  captain  into  the  house.  The 
latter  offered  a  cup  of  tea,  which  the  visitor,  after  a 
faint  protest,  accepted,  and  taking  a  seat  at  the  table 
gazed  in  undisguised  admiration  at  the  nautical  ap- 
pearance of  the  room. 

"I  could  fancy  myself  aboard  ship,"  he  declared. 

"  Are  you  fond  of  the  sea?  "  inquired  the  captain. 

"  I  love  it,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  fervently.  "  It  was 
always  my  idea  from  a  boy  to  go  to  sea,  but  somehow 
I  didn't.  I  went  into  my  father's  business  instead,  but 
I  never  liked  it.  Some  people  are  fond  of  a  stay-at- 
home  life,  but  I  always  had  a  hankering  after 
adventures." 

The  captain  shook  his  head.  "  Ha!  "  he  said, 
impressively. 

"  You've  had  a  few  in  your  time,"  said  Mr.  Chalk, 
19 


ra,Tr-L_    B^«.~:a 


**  He  took  Mr.  Chalk  in  a  firm  grasp  and  lowered  him." 


ao 


Dialstone  Lane 

looking  at  him,  grudgingly;  "  Edward  Tredgold  was 
telling  me  so." 

"  Man  and  boy,  I  was  at  sea  forty-nine  years,"  re- 
marked the  captain.  "  Naturally  things  happened  in 
that  time ;  it  would  have  been  odd  if  they  hadn't.  It's 
all  in  a  lifetime." 

"Some  lifetimes,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  gloomily. 
"  I'm  fifty-one  next  year,  and  the  only  thing  I  ever 
-had  happen  to  me  was  seeing  a  man  stop  a  runaway 
horse  and  cart." 

He  shook  his  head  solemnly  over  his  monotonous 
career,  and,  gazing  at  a  war-club  from  Samoa  which 
hung  over  the  fireplace,  put  a  few  leading  questions  to 
the  captain  concerning  the  manner  in  which  it  came 
into  his  possession.  When  Prudence  came  in  half  an 
hour  later  he  was  still  sitting  there,  listening  with  rapt 
attention  to  his  host's  tales  of  distant  seas. 

It  was  the  first  of  many  visits.  Sometimes  he 
brought  Mr.  Tredgold  and  sometimes  Mr.  Tredgold 
brought  him.  The  terrors  of  the  crow's-nest  vanished 
before  his  persevering  attacks,  and  perched  there  with 
the  captain's  glass  he  swept  the  landscape  with  the  air 
of  an  explorer  surveying  a  strange  and  hostile  country. 

It  was  a  fitting  prelude  to  the  captain's  tales  after- 
wards, and  Mr.  Chalk,  with  the  stem  of  his  long 
pipe  withdrawn  from  his  open  mouth,  would  sit  en- 
thralled as  his  host  narrated  picturesque  incidents  of 
hairbreadth  escapes,  or,  drawing  his  chair  to  the  table, 

21 


Dialstone  Lane 

made  rough  maps  for  his  Hstener's  clearer  understand- 
ing. Sometimes  the  captain  took  him  to  palm-studded 
islands  in  the  Southern  Seas ;  sometimes  to  the  ancient 


"Sometimes  the  captain  took  him  to  palm-studded  islands  in  the  Southern  Seas." 

worlds  of  China  and  Japan.  He  became  an  expert 
in  nautical  terms.  He  walked  in  knots,  and  even  or- 
dered a  new  carpet  in  fathoms — after  the  shop-keeper 
had  demonstrated,  by  means  of  his  little  boy's  arith- 

22 


Dialstone  Lane 

metic  book,  the  difference  between  that  measurement 
and  a  furlong. 

"I'll  have  a  voyage  before  I'm  much  older,"  he 
remarked  one  afternoon,  as  he  sat  in  the  captain's  sit- 
ting-room. "  Since  I  retired  from  business  time  hangs 
very  heavy  sometimes.  I've  got  a  fancy  for  a  small 
yacht,  but  I  suppose  I  couldn't  go  a  long  voyage  in 
a  small  one?  " 

"  Smaller  the  better,"  said  Edward  Tredgold,  who 
was  sitting  by  the  window  watching  Miss  Drewitt 
sewing. 

Mr.  Chalk  took  his  pipe  from  his  mouth  and  eyed 
him  inquiringly. 

"  Less  to  lose,"  explained  Mr,  Tredgold,  with  a 
scarcely  perceptible  glance  at  the  captain.  "  Look  at 
the  dangers  you'd  be  dragging  your  craft  into.  Chalk; 
there  would  be  no  satisfying  you  with  a  quiet  cruise 
in  the  Mediterranean." 

"  I  shouldn't  run  into  unnecessary  danger,"  said 
Mr.  Chalk,  seriously.  "  I'm  a  married  man,  and 
there's  my  wife  to  think  of.  What  would  become  of 
her  if  anything  happened  to  me?  " 

"  Why,  you've  got  plenty  of  money  to  leave, 
haven't  you?  "  inquired  Mr.  Tredgold. 

"I  was  thinking  of  her  losing  me,"  replied  Mr, 
Chalk,  with  a  touch  of  acerbity. 

"  Oh,  I  didn't  think  of  that,"  said  the  other.  "  Yes, 
to  be  sure." 

23 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Captain  Bowers  was  telling  me  the  other  day  of 
a  woman  who  wore  widow's  weeds  for  thirty-five 
years,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  impressively.  "  And  all  the 
time  her  husband  was  married  again  and  got  a  big 
family  in  Australia.  There's  nothing  in  the  world  so 
faithful  as  a  woman's  heart." 

"  Well,  if  you're  lost  on  a  cruise,  I  shall  know 
where  to  look  for  you,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold.  "  But 
I  don't  think  the  captain  ought  to  put  such  ideas  into 
your  head." 

Mr.  Chalk  looked  bewildered.  Then  he  scratched 
his  left  whisker  with  the  stem  of  his  church- 
warden pipe  and  looked  severely  over  at  Mr.  Tred- 
gold. 

"  I  don't  think  you  ought  to  talk  that  way  before 
ladies,"  he  said,  primly.  "  Of  course,  I  know  you're 
only  in  joke,  but  there's  some  people  can't  see  jokes 
as  quick  as  others  and  they  might  get  a  wrong  idea 
of  you." 

"  What  part  did  you  think  of  going  to  for  your 
cruise?  "  interposed  Captain  Bowers. 

"There's  nothing  settled  yet,"  said  Mr.  Chalk; 
*'  it's  just  an  idea,  that's  all.  I  was  talking  to  your 
father  the  other  day,"  he  added,  turning  to  Mr.  Tred- 
gold; "  just  sounding  him,  so  to  speak." 

*'  You  take  him,"  said  that  dutiful  son,  briskly. 
"  It  would  do  him  a  world  of  good;  me,  too." 

"  He  said  he  couldn't  afford  either  the  time  or  the 
24 


Dialstone  Lane 

money,"  said  Mr.  Chalk.  "  The  thing  to  do  would 
be  to  combine  business  with  pleasure — to  take  a  yacht 
and  find  a  sunken  galleon  loaded  with  gold  pieces. 
I've  heard  of  such  things  being  done." 

"  I've  heard  of  It,"  said  the  captain,  nodding. 

"  Bottom  of  the  ocean  must  be  paved  with  them 
In  places,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  rising,  and  following 
Miss  Drewitt,  who  had  gone  into  the  garden  to  plant 
seeds. 

Mr.  Chalk  refilled  his  pipe  and,  accepting  a  match 
from  the  captain,  smoked  slowly.  His  gaze  was  fixed 
on  the  window,  but  instead  of  Dialstone  Lane  he  saw 
tumbling  blue  seas  and  islets  far  away. 

"  That's  something  you've  never  come  across,  I 
suppose,  Captain  Bowers?"  he  remarked  at  last. 

"  No,"  said  the  other. 

Mr.  Chalk,  with  a  vain  attempt  to  conceal  his  dis^ 
appointment,  smoked  on  for  some  time  In  silence. 
The  blue  seas  disappeared,  and  he  saw  Instead  the 
brass  knocker  of  the  house  opposite. 

"  Nor  any  other  kind  of  craft  with  treasure  aboard, 
I  suppose?  "  he  suggested,  at  last. 

The  captain  put  his  hands  on  his  knees  and  stared 
at  the  floor.  "  No,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  I  can't  call  to 
mind  any  craft;  but  It's  odd  that  you  should  have  got 
on  this  subject  with  me." 

Mr.  Chalk  laid  his  pipe  carefully  on  the  table. 
"Why?"  he  Inquired. 

25 


Dialstone  Lane 

**  Well,"  said  the  captain,  with  a  short  laugh,  "  it 
is  odd,  that's  all." 

Mr.  Chalk  fidgeted  with  the  stem  of  his  pipe. 
"You  know  of  sunken  treasure  somewhere?"  he 
said,  eagerly. 

The  captain  smiled  and  shook  his  head;  the  other 
watched  him  narrowly. 

"You  know  of  some  treasure?"  he  said,  with 
conviction. 

"  Not  what  you  could  call  sunken,"  said  the  cap- 
tain, driven  to  bay. 

Mr,  Chalk's  pale-blue  eyes  opened  to  their  fullest 
extent.    "  Ingots?  "  he  queried. 

The  other  shook  his  head.  *'  It's  a  secret,"  he 
remarked;  "  we  won't  talk  about  it." 

*'  Yes,  of  course,  naturally,  I  don't  expect  you  to 
tell  me  where  it  is,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  "  but  I  thought 
it  might  be  interesting  to  hear  about,  that's  all." 

*'  It's  buried,"  said  the  captain,  after  a  long  pause. 
"I  don't  know  that  there's  any  harm  in  telling  you 
that;  buried  in  a  small  island  in  the  South  Pacific." 

*'  Have  you  seen  it?  "  inquired  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  I  buried  it,"  rejoined  the  other. 

Mr.  Chalk  sank  back  in  his  chair  and  regarded 
him  with  awestruck  attention;  Captain  Bowers,  slowly 
ramming  home  a  charge  of  tobacco  with  his  thumb, 
smiled  quietly. 

"  Buried  it,"  he  repeated,  musingly,  "  with  the 
26 


Dialstone  Lane 

blade  of  an  oar  for  a  spade.  It  was  a  long  job,  but 
it's  six  foot  down  and  the  dead  man  It  belonged  to 
atop  of  it." 

The  pipe  fell  from  the  listener's  fingers  and 
smashed  unheeded  on  the  floor. 

"  You  ought  to  make  a  book  of  it,"  he  said  at  last. 

The  captain  shook  his  head.  "  I  haven't  got  the 
gift  of  story-telling,"  he  said,  simply.  "  Besides,  you 
can  understand  I  don't  want  it  noised  about.  People 
might  bother  me." 

He  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  bunched  his  beard 
in  his  hand;  the  other,  watching  him  closely,  saw  that 
his  thoughts  were  busy  with  some  scene  in  his  stirring 
past. 

"  Not  a  friend  of  yours,  I  hope?  "  said  Mr.  Chalk, 
at  last. 

"Who?"  inquired  the  captain,  starting  from  his 
reverie. 

"  The  dead  man  atop  of  the  treasure,"  replied  the 
other. 

"  No,"  said  the  captain,  briefly. 

"  Is  it  worth  much?  "  asked  Mr.  Chalk. 

"Roughly  speaking,  about  half  a  million,"  re- 
sponded the  captain,  calmly. 

Mr.  Chalk  rose  and  walked  up  and  down  the  room. 
His  eyes  were  bright  and  his  face  pinker  than  usual. 

"  Why  don't  you  get  it?  "  he  demanded,  at  last, 
pausing  in  front  of  his  host. 

27 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Why,  it  ain't  mine,"  said  the  captain,  staring. 
"D'ye  think  I'm  a  thief?" 

Mr.  Chalk  stared  in  his  turn.  "  But  who  does  it 
belong  to,  then?  "  he  inquired. 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  the  captain.  "  All  I  know 
is,  it  isn't  mine,  and  that's  enough  for  me.  Whether 
it  was  rightly  come  by  I  don't  know.  There  it  is,  and 
there  it'll  stay  till  the  crack  of  doom." 

"  Don't  you  know  any  of  his  relations  or  friends?  '* 
persisted  the  other. 

"  I  know  nothing  of  him  except  his  name,"  said  the 
captain,  "  and  I  doubt  if  even  that  was  his  right  one. 
Don  Silvio  he  called  himself — a  Spaniard.  It's  over 
ten  years  ago  since  it  happened.  My  ship  had  been 
bought  by  a  firm  in  Sydney,  and  while  I  was  waiting 
out  there  I  went  for  a  little  run  on  a  schooner  among 
the  islands.  This  Don  Silvio  was  aboard  of  hey:  as  a 
passenger.  She  went  to  pieces  in  a  gale,  and  we  were 
the  only  two  saved.  The  others  were  washed  over- 
board, but  we  got  ashore  in  the  boat,  and  I  thought 
from  the  trouble  he  was  taking  over  his  bag  that  the 
danger  had  turned  his  brain." 

"  Ah !  "  said  the  keenly  interested  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  He  was  a  sick  man  aboard  ship,"  continued  the 
captain,  "  and  I  soon  saw  that  he  hadn't  saved  his  life 
for  long.  He  saw  it,  too,  and  before  he  died  he  made 
me  promise  that  the  bag  should  be  buried  with  him 
and  never  disturbed.    After  I'd  promised,  he  opened 

28 


Dialstone  Lane 

the  bag  and  showed  me  what  was  in  it.  It  was  full 
of  precious  stones — diamonds,  rubies,  and  the  like; 
some  of  them  as  large  as  birds'  eggs.  I  can  see  him 
now,  propped  up  against  the  boat  and  playing  with 
them  in  the  sunlight.  They  blazed  like  stars.  Half 
a  million  he  put  them  at,  or  more." 

"  What  good  could  they  be  to  him  when  he  was 
dead?  "  inquired  the  listener. 

Captain  Bowers  shook  his  head.  "  That  was  his 
business,  not  mine,"  he  replied.  "  It  was  nothing  to 
do  with  me.  When  he  died  I  dug  a  grave  for  him,  as 
I  told  you,  with  a  bit  of  a  broken  oar,  and  laid  him  and 
the  bag  together.  A  month  afterwards  I  was  taken 
off  by  a  passing  schooner  and  landed  safe  at  Sydney." 

Mr.  Chalk  stopped,  and  mechanically  picking  up 
the  pieces  of  his  pipe  placed  them  on  the  table. 

"Suppose  that  you  had  heard  afterwards  that  the 
things  had  been  stolen?  "  he  remarked. 

"  If  I  had,  then  I  should  have  given  information, 
I  think,"  said  the  other.     "  It  all  depends." 

"  Ah  !  but  how  could  you  have  found  them  again?  " 
inquired  Mr.  Chalk,  with  the  air  of  one  propounding 
a  poser. 

"  With  my  map,"  said  the  captain,  slowly.  "  Be- 
fore I  left  I  made  a  map  of  the  island  and  got  its  posi- 
tion from  the  schooner  that  picked  me  up ;  but  I  never 
heard  a  word  from  that  day  to  this." 

"  Could  you  find  them  now?  "  said  Mr.  Chalk. 
29 


Dialstone   Lane 

"  Why  not?  "  said  the  captain,  with  a  short  laugh. 
"  The  island  hasn't  run  away." 

He  rose  as  he  spoke  and,  tossing  the  fragments  of 


**•  How  could  you  have  found  them  again?'  Inquired  Mr.  Chalk,  with  the  ak 
of  one  propounding  a  poser." 

his  visitor's  pipe  into  the  fireplace,  invited  him  to  take 
a  turn  in  the  garden.  Mr.  Chalk,  after  a  feeble 
attempt  to  discuss  the  matter  further,  reluctantly 
obeyed. 

30 


CHAPTER    III 

MR.  CHALK,  with  his  mind  full  of  the 
story  he  had  just  heard,  walked  home- 
wards like  a  man  in  a  dream.  The  air 
was  fragrant  with  spring  and  the  scent  of  lilac 
revived  memories  almost  forgotten.  It  took  him 
back  forty  years,  and  showed  him  a  small  boy  tread- 
ing the  same  road,  passing  the  same  houses.  Noth- 
ing had  changed  so  much  as  the  small  boy  himself; 
nothing  had  been  so  unlike  the  life  he  had  pictured 
as  the  life  he  had  led.  Even  the  blamelessness  of 
the  latter  yielded  no  comfort;  it  savoured  of  a  lack 
of  spirit. 

His  mind  was  still  busy  with  the  past  when  he 
reached  home.  Mrs.  Chalk,  a  woman  of  imposing 
appearance,  who  was  sitting  by  the  window  at  needle- 
work, looked  up  sharply  at  his  entrance.  Before  she 
spoke  he  had  a  dim  idea  that  she  was  excited  about 
something. 

"  I've  got  her,"  she  said,  triumphantly. 

"Oh!"  said  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  She  didn't  want  to  come  at  first,"  said  Mrs. 
Chalk;  "  she'd  half  promised  to  go  to  Mrs.  Morris. 
Mrs.  Morris  had  heard  of  her  through  Harris,  the 

31 


Dialstone  Lane 

grocer,  and  he  only  knew  she  was  out  of  a  place  by 

accident.     He " 

Her  words  fell  on  deaf  ears.     Mr.  Chalk,  gazing 
through  the  window,  heard  without  comprehending 


ill  J  m^k^^^^ 


"  A  smalt  boy  treading  the  same  road." 


a  long  account  of  the  capture  of  a  new  housemaid, 
which,  slightly  altered  as  to  name  and  place,  would 
have  passed  muster  as  an  exciting  contest  between 
a  skilful  angler  and  a  particularly  sulky  salmon. 
Mrs.  Chalk,  noticing  his  inattention  at  last,  pulled 
up  sharply. 

Z2 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  You're  not  listening !  "  she  cried. 

'*  Yes,  I  am;  go  on,  my  dear,"  said  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  What  did  I  say  she  left  her  last  place  for, 
then?  "  demanded  the  lady. 

Mr.  Chalk  started.  He  had  been  conscious  of  his 
wife's  voice,  and  that  was  all.  "  You  said  you  were 
not  surprised  at  her  leaving,"  he  replied,  slowly; 
"  the  only  wonder  to  you  was  that  a  decent  girl 
should  have  stayed  there  so  long." 

Mrs.  Chalk  started  and  bit  her  lip.  "  Yes," 
she  said,  slowly.  "Ye — es.  Go  on;  anything 
else?" 

"  You  said  the  house  wanted  cleaning  from  top 
to  bottom,"  said  the  painstaking  Mr.  Chalk. 

*'  Go  on,"  said  his  wife,  in  a  smothered  voice. 
"What  else  did  I  say?" 

"  Said  you  pitied  the  husband,"  continued  Mr. 
Chalk,  thoughtfully. 

Mrs.  Chalk  rose  suddenly  and  stood  over  him. 
Mr.  Chalk  tried  desperately  to  collect  his  faculties. 

"  How  dare  you?  "  she  gasped.  *'  I've  never  said 
such  things  in  my  life.  Never,  And  I  said  that  she 
left  because  Mr.  Wilson,  her  master,  was  dead  and 
the  family  had  gone  to  London.  I've  never  been 
near  the  house;  so  how  could  I  say  such  things?  " 

Mr.  Chalk  remained  silent. 

"What  made  you  think  of  such  things?"  per- 
sisted Mrs.  Chalk. 

33 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr,  Chalk  shook  his  head;  no  satisfactory  reply 
was  possible.  "  My  thoughts  were  far  away,"  he 
said,  at  last. 

His  wife  bridled  and  said,  "  Oh,  indeed!  "  Mr. 
Chalk's  mother,  dead  some  ten  years  before,  had 
taken  a  strange  pride — possibly  as  a  protest  against 
her  only  son's  appearance — in  hinting  darkly  at  a 
stormy  and  chequered  past.  Pressed  for  details  she 
became  more  mysterious  still,  and,  saying  that  "  she 
knew  what  she  knew,"  declined  to  be  deprived  of 
the  knowledge  under  any  consideration.  She  also 
informed  her  daughter-in-law  that  "  what  the  eye 
don't  see  the  heart  don't  grieve,"  and  that  it  was 
better  to  "  let  bygones  be  bygones,"  usually  wind- 
ing up  with  the  advice  to  the  younger  woman 
to  keep  her  eye  on  Mr.  Chalk  without  letting 
him  see  it. 

"  Peckham  Rye  is  a  long  way  off,  certainly," 
added  the  indignant  Mrs.  Chalk,  after  a  pause. 
"  It's  a  pity  you  haven't  got  something  better  to 
think  of,  at  your  time  of  life,  too." 

Mr.  Chalk  flushed.  Peckham  Rye  was  one  of 
the  nuisances  bequeathed  by  his  mother. 

"  I  was  thinking  of  the  sea,"  he  said,  loftily. 

Mrs.  Chalk  pounced.  "  Oh,  Yarmouth,"  she 
said,  with  withering  scorn. 

Mr.  Chalk  flushed  deeper  than  before.  "  I  wasn't 
thinking  of  such  things,"  he  declared. 

34 


Dialstone  Lane 

"What  things?"  said  his  wife,  swiftly. 

"  The — the  things  you're  alluding  to,"  said  the 
harassed  Mr.  Chalk. 

"Ah!  "  said  his  wife,  with  a  toss  of  her  head. 
"  Why  you  should  get  red  in  the  face  and  confused 
when  I  say  that  Peckham  Rye  and  Yarmouth  are  a 
long  way  off  is  best  known  to  yourself.  It's  very 
funny  that  the  moment  either  of  these  places  is  men- 
tioned you  get  uncomfortable.  People  might  read 
a  geography-book  out  loud  in  my  presence  and  It 
wouldn't  affect  me." 

She  swept  out  of  the  room,  and  Mr.  Chalk's 
thoughts,  excited  by  the  magic  word  geography, 
went  back  to  the  Island  again.  The  half-forgotten 
dreams  of  his  youth  appeared  to  be  materializing. 
Sleepy  Binchester  ended  for  him  at  Dialstone  Lane, 
and  once  inside  the  captain's  room  the  enchanted 
world  beyond  the  seas  was  spread  before  his  eager 
gaze.  The  captain,  amused  at  first  at  his  enthusiasm, 
began  to  get  weary  of  the  subject  of  the  island,  and 
so  far  the  visitor  had  begged  In  vain  for  a  glimpse 
of  the  map. 

His  enthusiasm  became  contagious.  Prudence, 
entering  one  evening  in  the  middle  of  a  conversation, 
heard  sufficient  to  Induce  her  to  ask  for  more,  and 
the  captain,  not  without  some  reluctance  and  several 
promptings  from  Mr.  Chalk  when  he  showed  signs 
of  omitting  vital  points,  related  the  story.     Edward 

35 


Dialstone  Lane 

Tredgold  heard  it,  and,  judging  by  the  frequency 
of  his  visits,  was  almost  as  interested  as  Mr. 
Chalk. 

"  I  can't  see  that  there  could  be  any  harm  in  just 
looking  at  the  map,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  one  evening. 
"  You  could  keep  your  thumb  on  any  part  you 
wanted  to." 

"  Then  we  should  know  where  to  dig,"  urged  Mr. 
Tredgold.  "  Properly  managed  there  ought  to  be 
a  fortune  in  your  innocence.  Chalk." 

Mr.  Chalk  eyed  him  fixedly.  "  Seeing  that  the 
latitude  and  longitude  and  all  the  directions  are 
written  on  the  back,"  he  observed,  with  cold  dignity, 
"  I  don't  see  the  force  of  your  remarks." 

'*  Well,  in  that  case,  why  not  show  it  to  Mr. 
Chalk,  uncle?"  said  Prudence,  charitably. 

Captain  Bowers  began  to  show  signs  of  annoy- 
ance.    "  Well,  my  dear ,"  he  began,  slowly. 

"  Then  Miss  Drewitt  could  see  it  too,"  said  Mr. 
Tredgold,  blandly. 

Miss  Drewitt  reddened  with  indignation.  "  I 
could  see  it  any  time  I  wished,"  she  said,  sharply. 

"  Well,  wish  now,"  entreated  Mr.  Tredgold. 
"  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I'm  dying  with  curiosity  my- 
self. Bring  it  out  and  make  it  crackle,  captain;  it's 
a  bank-note  for  half  a  million." 

The  captain  shook  his  head  and  a  slight  frown 
marred  his  usually  amiable  features.    He  got  up  and, 

36 


Dialstone  Lane 

turning  his  back  on  them,  filled  his  pipe  from  a  jar 
on  the  mantelpiece. 

"  You  never  will  see  it,  Chalk,"  said  Edward 
Tredgold,  in  tones  of  much  conviction.  "  I'll  bet 
you  two  to  one  in  golden  sovereigns  that  you'll  sink 
into  your  honoured  family  vault  with  your  justifiable 
curiosity  still  unsatisfied.  And  I  shouldn't  wonder 
if  your  perturbed  spirit  walks  the  captain's  bedroom 
afterwards." 

Miss  Drewitt  looked  up  and  eyed  the  speaker  with 
scornful  comprehension.  "  Take  the  bet,  Mr. 
Chalk,"  she  said,  slowly. 

Mr.  Chalk  turned  in  hopeful  amaze;  then  he 
leaned  over  and  shook  hands  solemnly  with  Mr. 
Tredgold.     "  I'll  take  the  bet,"  he  said. 

"  Uncle  will  show  it  to  you  to  please  me,"  an- 
nounced Prudence,  in  a  clear  voice.  "  Won't  you, 
uncle?" 

The  captain  turned  and  took  the  matches  from 
the  table.  "  Certainly,  my  dear,  if  I  can  find 
it,"  he  said,  in  a  hesitating  fashion.  "  But  I'm 
afraid  I've  mislaid  it.  I  haven't  seen  it  since  I 
unpacked." 

"  Mislaid  it!  "  ejaculated  the  startled  Mr.  Chalk. 
"  Good  heavens!  Suppose  somebody  should  find  it? 
What  about  your  word  to  Don  Silvio  then?  " 

"  I've  got  it  somewhere,"  said  the  captain, 
brusquely;  "  I'll  have  a  hunt  for  it.     All  the  same, 

Z7 


Dialstone  Lane 

I  don't  know  that  it's  quite  fair  to  Interfere  in  a 
bet." 

Miss  Drewitt  waved  the  objection  away,  remark- 
ing that  people  who  made  bets  must  risk  losing  their 
money. 

"  I'll  begin  to  save  up,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  with 
a  lightness  which  was  not  lost  upon  Miss  Drewitt. 
*'  The  captain  has  got  to  find  it  before  you  can  see 
it,  Chalk." 

Mr.  Chalk,  with  a  satisfied  smile,  said  that  when 
the  captain  promised  a  thing  it  was  as  good  as 
done. 

For  the  next  few  days  he  waited  patiently,  and, 
ransacking  an  old  lumber-room,  divided  his  time 
pretty  equally  between  a  volume  of  '*  Captain 
Cook's  Voyages "  that  he  found  there  and  "  Fa- 
mous Shipwrecks."  By  this  means  and  the  exercise 
of  great  self-control  he  ceased  from  troubling  Dial- 
stone  Lane  for  a  week.  Even  then  it  was  Edward 
Tredgold  who  took  him  there.  The  latter  was  in 
high  spirits,  and  in  explanation  informed  the  com- 
pany, with  a  cheerful  smile,  that  he  had  saved  five 
and  ninepence,  and  was  forming  habits  which  bade 
fair  to  make  him  a  rich  man  in  time. 

"  Don't  you  be  in  too  much  of  a  hurry  to  find 
that  map,  captain,"  he  said. 

"  It's  found,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  with  a  little  note 
of  triumph  in  her  voice. 

38 


Dialstone   Lane 

"  Found  it  this  morning,"  said  Captain  Bowers. 
He  crossed  over  to  an  oak  bureau  which  stood  in 


"  He  ransacked  an  old  lumber-room.'* 


the  corner  by  the  fireplace,  and  taking  a  paper  from 
a  pigeon-hole  slowly  unfolded  it  and  spread  it  on  the 
table  before  the  delighted  Mr.  Chalk.    Miss  Drewitt 

39 


Dialstone  Lane 

and  Edward  Tredgold  advanced  to  the  table  and 
eyed  it  curiously. 

The  map,  which  was  drawn  in  lead-pencil,  was  on 
a  piece  of  ruled  paper,  yellow  with  age  and  cracked 
in  the  folds.  The  island  was  in  shape  a  rough  oval, 
the  coast-line  being  broken  by  small  bays  and  head- 
lands. Mr,  Chalk  eyed  it  with  all  the  fervour  usu- 
ally bestowed  on  a  holy  relic,  and,  breathlessly  read- 
ing off  such  terms  as  "  Cape  Silvio,"  '*  Bowers  Bay," 
and  "  Mount  Lonesome,"  gazed  with  breathless 
interest  at  the  discoverer. 

"  And  is  that  the  grave?  "  he  inquired,  in  a  trem- 
bling voice,  pointing  to  a  mark  in  the  north-east 
corner. 

The  captain  removed  it  with  his  finger-nail. 
*'  No,"  he  said,  briefly.  '*  For  full  details  see  the 
other  side." 

For  one  moment  Mr.  Chalk  hoped;  then  his  face 
fell  as  Captain  Bowers,  displaying  for  a  fraction  of 
a  second  the  writing  on  the  other  side,  took  up  the 
map  and,  replacing  it  in  the  bureau,  turned  the  key 
in  the  lock  and  with  a  low  laugh  resumed  his  seat. 
Miss  Drewitt,  glancing  over  at  Edward  Tredgold, 
saw  that  he  looked  very  thoughtful. 

**  You've  lost  your  bet,"  she  said,  pointedly. 

"  I  know,"  was  the  reply. 

His  gaiety  had  vanished  and  he  looked  so  dejected 
that    Miss    Drewitt    was    reminded    of    the    ruined 

40 


Dialstone  Lane 

gambler  ia  a  celebrated  picture.  She  tried  to  quiet 
her  conscience  by  hoping  that  it  would  be  a  lesson 
to  him.  As  she  watched,  Mr.  Tredgold  dived  into 
his  left  trouser-pocket  and  counted  out  some  coins, 
mostly  brown.  To  these  he  added  a  few  small  pieces 
of  silver  gleaned  from  his  waistcoat,  and  then  after 
a  few  seconds'  moody  thought  found  a  few  more  in 
the  other  trouser-pocket. 

"  Eleven  and  tenpence,"  he  said,  mechanically. 

"  Any  time,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  regarding  him  with 
awkward  surprise.     "  Any  time." 

"  Give  him  an  I  O  U,"  said  Captain  Bowers, 
fidgeting. 

"Yes,  any  time,"  repeated  Mr.  Chalk;  "  Fm 
in  no  hurry." 

"  No;  I'd  sooner  pay  now  and  get  it  over,"  said 
the  other,  still  fumbling  in  his  pockets.  '*  As  Miss 
Drewitt  says,  people  who  make  bets  must  be  pre- 
pared to  lose;  I  thought  I  had  more  than  this." 

There  was  an  embarrassing  silence,  during  which 
Miss  Drewitt,  who  had  turned  very  red,  felt 
strangely  uncomfortable.  She  felt  more  uncom- 
fortable still  when  Mr.  Tredgold,  discovering  a 
bank-note  and  a  little  collection  of  gold  coins  in 
another  pocket,  artlessly  expressed  his  joy  at  the  dis- 
covery. The  simple-minded  captain  and  Mr.  Chalk 
both  experienced  a  sense  of  relief;  Miss  Drewitt  sat 
and  simmered  in  helpless  indignation. 

41 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  You're  careless  in  money  matters,  my  lad,"  said 
the  captain,  reprovingly.       * 

"  I  couldn't  understand  him  making  all  that  fuss 
over  a  couple  o'  pounds,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  looking 
round.     "  He's  very  free,  as  a  rule;  too  free." 

Mr.  Tredgold,  sitting  grave  and  silent,  made  no 
reply  to  these  charges,  and  the  girl  was  the  only 
one  to  notice  a  faint  twitching  at  the  corners  of  his 
mouth.  She  saw  it  distinctly,  despite  the  fact  that 
her  clear,  grey  eyes  were  fixed  dreamily  on  a  spot 
some  distance  above  his  head. 

She  sat  in  her  room  upstairs  after  the  visitors  had 
gone,  thinking  it  over.  The  light  was  fading  fast, 
and  as  she  sat  at  the  open  window  the  remembrance 
of  Mr.  Tredgold's  conduct  helped  to  mar  one  of  the 
most  perfect  evenings  she  had  ever  known. 

Downstairs  the  captain  was  also  thinking.  Dial- 
stone  Lane  was  in  shadow,  and  already  one  or  two 
lamps  were  lit  behind  drawn  blinds.  A  little  chat- 
ter of  voices  at  the  end  of  the  lane  floated  in  at  the 
open  window,  mellowed  by  distance.  His  pipe  was 
out,  and  he  rose  to  search  in  the  gloom  for  a  match, 
when  another  murmur  of  voices  reached  his  ears 
from  the  kitchen.  He  stood  still  and  listened  in- 
tently. To  put  matters  beyond  all  doubt,  the  shrill 
laugh  of  a  girl  was  plainly  audible.  The  captain's 
face  hardened,  and,  crossing  to  the  fireplace,  he  rang 
the  bell. 

42 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Yessir,"  said  Joseph,  as  he  appeared  and  closed 
the  door  carefully  behind  him. 

"  What  are  you  talking  to  yourself  in  that  absurd 
manner  for?"  inquired  the  captain  with  great  dignity. 

"  Me,  sir?  "  said  Mr.  Tasker,  feebly. 

"  Yes,  you,"  repeated  the  captain,  noticing  with 
surprise  that  the  door  was  slowly  opening. 

Mr.  Tasker  gazed  at  him  in  a  troubled  fashion, 
but  made  no  reply. 

"  I  won't  have  it,"  said  the  captain,  sternly,  with 
a  side  glance  at  the  door.  "  If  you  want  to  talk  to 
yourself  go  outside  and  do  it.  I  never  heard  such 
a  laugh.  What  did  you  do  it  for?  It  was  like  an 
old  woman  with  a  bad  cold." 

He  smiled  grimly  in  the  darkness,  and  then  started 
slightly  as  a  cough,  a  hostile,  challenging  cough, 
sounded  from  the  kitchen.  Before  he  could  speak 
the  cough  ceased  and  a  thin  voice  broke  carelessly 
into  song. 

"  What!  "  roared  the  captain.  In  well-feigned  as- 
tonishment. "  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  you've  got 
somebody  in  my  pantry?  Go  and  get  me  those 
rules  and  regulations." 

Mr.  Tasker  backed  out,  and  the  captain  smiled 
again  as  he  heard  a  whispered  discussion.  Then  a 
voice  clear  and  distinct  took  command.  "  I'll  take 
'em  In  myself,  I  tell  you,"  it  said.  "  I'll  rules  and 
regulations  him." 

43 


Dialstone  Lane 

The  smile  faded  from  the  captain's  face,  and  he 
gazed  in  perplexity  at  the  door  as  a  strange  young 
woman  bounced  Into  the  room. 

"  Here's  your  rules  and  regulations,"  said  the  in- 
truder, In  a  somewhat  shrewish  voice.  "  You'd  bet- 
ter light  the  lamp  If  you  want  to  see  'em;  though  the 
spelling  ain't  so  noticeable  in  the  dark." 

The  impresslveness  of  the  captain's  gaze  was 
wasted  in  the  darkness.  For  a  moment  he  hesi- 
tated, and  then,  with  the  dignity  of  a  man  whose 
spelling  has  nothing  to  conceal,  struck  a  match  and 
lit  the  lamp.  The  lamp  lighted,  he  lowered  the 
blind,  and  then  seating  himself  by  the  window 
turned  with  a  majestic  air  to  a  thin  slip  of  a  girl  with 
tow-coloured  hair,  who  stood  by  the  door. 

"Who  are  you?"  he  demanded,  gruffly. 

"  My  name's  Vickers,"  said  the  young  lady. 
"  Sellna  Vickers.  I  heard  all  what  you've  been  say- 
ing to  my  Joseph,  but,  thank  goodness,  I  can  take 
my  own  part.  I  don't  want  nobody  to  fight  my 
battles  for  me.  If  you've  got  anything  to  say  about 
my  voice  you  can  say  It  to  my  face." 

Captain  Bowers  sat  back  and  regarded  her  with 
impressive  dignity.  Miss  Vickers  met  his  gaze 
calmly  and,  with  a  pair  of  unwinking  green  eyes, 
stared  him  down. 

"What  were  you  doing  in  my  pantry?"  de- 
manded the  captain,  at  last. 

44 


Dialstone  Lane 


**  I  was  in  your  kitchen,''^  replied  Miss  Vickers, 
with  scornful  emphasis  on  the  last  word,  "  to  see  my 
young  man." 

"  Well,  I  can't  have  you  there,"  said  the  captain, 
with  a  mildness  that 
surprised       himself. 
"  One   of  my  rules 


Miss  Vickers  in- 
terposed. "I've  read 
'em  all  over  and 
over  again,"  she 
said,   impatiently. 

"If  it  occurs 
again,"  said  the 
other,  "  I  shall  have 
to  speak  to  Joseph 
very  seriously  about 
it." 

"  Talk  to  me," 
said  Miss  Vickers, 
sharply;  "  that's 
what  I  come  in  for. 
I  can  talk  to  you 
better  than  what 
Joseph  can,  I  know. 
What  harm  do  you  think  I  was  doing  your  old 
kitchen?     Don't  you  try  and  interfere  between  me 

45 


■  Sdina  Vickers." 


Dialstone  Lane 

and  my  Joseph,  because  I  won't  have  it.  You're  not 
married  yourself,  and  you  don't  want  other  people 
to  be.  How  do  you  suppose  the  world  would  get  on 
if  everybody  was  like  you?  " 

Captain  Bowers  regarded  her  in  open-eyed  per- 
plexity. The  door  leading  to  the  garden  had  just 
closed  behind  the  valiant  Joseph,  and  he  stared  with 
growing  uneasiness  at  the  slight  figure  of  Miss 
Vickers  as  it  stood  poised  for  further  oratorical 
efforts.  Before  he  could  speak  she  gave  her  lips  a 
rapid  lick  and  started  again. 

"  You're  one  of  those  people  that  don't  like  to 
see  others  happy,  that's  what  you  are,"  she  said,  rap- 
idly. "  I  wasn't  hurting  your  kitchen,  and  as  to  talk- 
ing and  laughing  there — what  do  you  think  my 
tongue  was  given  to  me  for?  Show?  P'r'aps  if 
you'd  been  doing  a  day's  hard  work  you'd " 

"  Look   here,    my   girl "   began   the   captain, 

desperately. 

"  Don't  you  my  girl  me,  please,"  interrupted  Miss 
Vickers.  "  I'm  not  your  girl,  thank  goodness.  If 
I  was  you'd  be  a  bit  different,  I  can  tell  you.  If  you 
had  any  girls  you'd  know  better  than  to  try  and 
come  between  them  and  their  young  men.  Besides, 
they  wouldn't  let  you.  When  a  girl's  got  a  young 
man " 

The  captain  rose  and  went  through  the  form  of 
ringing  the  bell.     Miss  Vickers  watched  him  calmly. 

46 


Dialstone  Lane 

*'  I  thought  I'd  just  have  it  out  with  you  for  once 
and  for  all,"  she  continued.  *'  I  told  Joseph  that 
I'd  no  doubt  your  bark  was  worse  than  your  bite. 
And  what  he  can  see  to  be  afraid  of  in  you  I  can't 
think.  Nervous  disposition,  I  s'pose.  Good  even- 
ing." 

She  gave  her  head  a  little  toss  and,  returning  to 
the  pantry,  closed  the  door  after  her.  Captain  Bow- 
ers, still  somewhat  dazed,  returned  to  his  chair  and, 
gazing  at  the  "  Rules,"  which  still  lay  on  the  table, 
grinned  feebly  in  his  beard. 


47 


CHAPTER    IV 

TO  keep  such  a  romance  to  himself  was  be- 
yond the  powers  of  Mr.  Chalk.  The  cap- 
tain had  made  no  conditions  as  to  secrecy, 
and  he  therefore  considered  himself  free  to  indulge 
in  hints  to  his  two  greatest  friends,  which  caused 
those  gentlemen  to  entertain  some  doubts  as  to  his 
sanity.  Mr.  Robert  Stobell,  whose  work  as  a  con- 
tractor had  left  a  permanent  and  unmistakable  mark 
upon  Binchester,  became  imbued  with  a  hazy  idea 
that  Mr.  Chalk  had  invented  a  new  process  of  mak- 
ing large  diamonds.  Mr.  Jasper  Tredgold,  on  the 
other  hand,  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  a  highly 
respectable  burglar  was  offering  for  some  reason  to 
share  his  loot  with  him.  A  conversation  between 
Messrs.  Stobell  and  Tredgold  in  the  High  Street 
only  made  matters  more  complicated. 

"  Chalk  always  was  fond  of  making  mysteries  of 
things,"  complained  Mr.  Tredgold. 

Mr.  Stobell,  whose  habit  was  taciturn  and  rumina- 
tive, fixed  his  dull  brown  eyes  on  the  ground  and 
thought  it  over.  "  I  believe  it's  all  my  eye  and 
Betty  Martin,"  he  said,  at  length,  quoting  a  saying 

48 


Dialstone  Lane 

which  had  been  used  in  his  family  as  an  expres- 
sion of  disbelief  since  the  time  of  his  great-grand- 
mother. 

"  He  comes  in  to  see  me  when  I'm  hard  at  work 
and  drops  hints,"  pursued  his  friend.  '*  When  I 
stop  to  pick  'em  up,  out  he  goes.  Yesterday  he 
came  in  and  asked  me  what  I  thought  of  a  man  who 
wouldn't  break  his  word  for  half  a  million.  Half  a 
million,  mind  you !  I  just  asked  him  who  it  was, 
and  out  he  went  again.  He  pops  in  and  out  of  my 
office  like  a  figure  on  a  cuckoo-clock." 

Mr.  Stobell  relapsed  into  thought  again,  but  no 
gleam  of  expression  disturbed  the  lines  of  his  heavy 
face;  Mr.  Tredgold,  whose  sharp,  alert  features 
bred  more  confidence  in  his  own  clients  than  those 
of  other  people,  waited  impatiently. 

"  He  knows  something  that  we  don't,"  said  Mr. 
Stobell,  at  last;  "that's  what  it  is." 

Mr.  Tredgold,  who  was  too  used  to  his  friend's 
mental  processes  to  quarrel  with  them,  assented. 

"  He's  coming  round  to  smoke  a  pipe  with  me 
to-morrow  night,"  he  said,  briskly,  as  he  turned  to 
cross  the  road  to  his  office.  "You  come  too,  and 
we'll  get  it  out  of  him.  If  Chalk  can  keep  a  secret 
he  has  altered,  that's  all  I  can  say." 

His  estimate  of  Mr.  Chalk  proved  correct.  With 
Mr.  Tredgold  acting  as  cross-examining  counsel  and 
Mr.  Stobell  enacting  the  part  of  a  partial  and  over- 

49 


Dialstone  Lane 

bearing  judge,  Mr.  Chalk,  after  a  display  of  forti- 
tude which  surprised  himself  almost  as  much  as  it 


"  He  pops  in  and  out  of  my  office  like  a  figure  on  a  cuckoo-clock." 

irritated  his  friends,  parted  with  his  news  and  sat 
smiling  with  gratification  at  their  growing  excite- 
ment. 

50 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Half  a  million,  and  he  won't  go  for  It?  "  ejacU" 
lated  Mr.  Tredgold.     "  The  man  must  be  mad." 

"No;  he  passed  his  word  and  he  won't  break 
it,"  said  Mr.  Chalk.  "  The  captain's  word  is  his 
bond,  and  I  honour  him  for  it.  I  can  quite  under- 
stand it." 

Mr.  Tredgold  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  glanced 
at  Mr.  Stobell;  that  gentleman,  after  due  delibera- 
tion, gave  an  assenting  nod. 

"  He  can't  get  at  it,  that's  the  long  and  short  of 
it,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  after  a  pause.  *'  He  had 
to  leave  it  behind  when  he  was  rescued,  or  else  risk 
losing  it  by  telling  the  men  who  rescued  him  about 
it,  and  he's  had  no  opportunity  since.  It  wants 
money  to  take  a  ship  out  there  and  get  it,  and  he 
doesn't  see  his  way  quite  clear.  He'll  have  it  fast 
enough  when  he  gets  a  chance.  If  not,  why  did  he 
make  that  map?  " 

Mr.  Chalk  shook  his  head,  and  remarked  mys- 
teriously that  the  captain  had  his  reasons.  Mr. 
Tredgold  relapsed  into  silence,  and  for  some  time 
the  only  sound  audible  came  from  a  briar-pipe  which 
Mr.  Stobell  ought  to  have  thrown  away  some  years 
before. 

"  Have  you  given  up  that  idea  of  a  yachting 
cruise  of  yours.  Chalk?"  demanded  Mr.  Tredgold, 
turning  on  him  suddenly. 

"  No,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  was  talking  about  it  to 
51 


Dialstone   Lane 

Captain  Bowers  only  the  other  day.  That's  how 
I  got  to  hear  of  the  treasure." 

Mr.  Tredgold  started  and  gave  a  significant 
glance  at  Mr.  Stobell.  In  return  he  got  a  wink 
which  that  gentleman  kept  for  moments  of  mental 
confusion. 

"  What  did  the  captain  tell  you  for?"  pursued 
Mr.  Tredgold,  returning  to  Mr.  Chalk.  "  He 
wanted  you  to  make  an  offer.  He  hasn't  got  the 
money  for  such  an  expedition;  you  have.  The  yarn 
about  passing  his  word  was  so  that  you  shouldn't 
open  your  mouth  too  wide.  You  were  to  do  the 
persuading,  and  then  he  could  make  his  own  terms. 
Do  you  see?    Why,  it's  as  plain  as  A  B  C." 

"  Plain  as  the  alphabet,"  said  Mr.  Stobell,  almost 
chidlngly. 

Mr.  Chalk  gasped  and  looked  from  one  to  the 
other. 

"  I  should  like  to  have  a  chat  with  the  captain 
about  it,"  continued  Mr.  Tredgold,  slowly  and  im- 
pressively. "  I'm  a  business  man  and  I  could  put 
It  on  a  business  footing.  It's  a  big  risk,  of  course; 
all  those  things  are  .  .  .  but  if  we  went  shares 
...    if  we  found  the  money " 

He  broke  off  and,  filling  his  pipe  slowly,  gazed  In 
deep  thought  at  the  wall.  His  friends  waited  ex- 
pectantly. 

"  Combine  business  with  pleasure,"  resumed  Mr. 
52 


Dialstone  Lane 

Tredgold,  lighting  his  pipe ;"  sea-air  .  .  .  change 
.  .  .  blow  away  the  cobwebs  .  .  .  experience  for 
Edward  to  be  left  alone.  What  do  you  think,  Sto- 
bell?"  he  added,  turning  suddenly. 

Mr.  Stobell  gripped  the  arms  of  his  chair  in  his 
huge  hands  and  drew  his  bulky  figure  to  a  more 
upright  position. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  combining  business  with 
pleasure?  "  he  said,  eyeing  him  with  dull  suspicion. 

"  Chalk  is  set  on  a  trip  for  the  love  of  it,"  ex- 
plained Mr.  Tredgold. 

"  If  we  take  on  the  contract,  he  ought  to  pay  a 
bigger  share,  then,"  said  the  other,  firmly. 

"  Perhaps  he  will,"  said  Tredgold,  hastily. 

Mr.  Stobell  pondered  again  and,  slightly  raising 
one  hand,  indicated  that  he  was  in  the  throes  of 
another  idea  and  did  not  wish  to  be  disturbed. 

"  You  said  it  would  be  experience  for  Edward  to 
be  left  alone,"  he  said,  accusingly. 

"  I  did,"  was  the  reply. 

*'  You  ought  to  pay  more,  too,  then,"  declared 
the  contractor,  "  because  it's  serving  of  your  ends  as 
well." 

"  We  can't  split  straws,"  exclaimed  Tredgold,  im- 
patiently. "  If  the  captain  consents  we  three  will  find 
the  money  and  divide  our  portion,  whatever  it  is, 
equally." 

Mr.  Chalk,  who  had  been  in  the  clouds  during 
53 


Dialstone  Lane 

this  discussion,  came  back  to  earth  again.     "  //  he 
consents,"  he  said,  sadly;  "  but  he  won't." 

"Well,  he  can  only  refuse,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold; 
"  and,  anyway,  we'll  have  the  first  refusal.  Things 
like  that  soon  get  about.  What  do  you  say  to  a 
stroll?    I  can  think  better  while  I'm  walking." 

His  friends  assenting,  they  put  on  their  hats  and 
sallied  forth.  That  they  should  stroll  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Dialstone  Lane  surprised  neither  of  them. 
Mr.  Tredgold  leading,  they  went  round  by  the 
church,  and  that  gentleman  paused  so  long  to  admire 
the  architecture  that  Mr.  Stobell  got  restless. 

"  You've  seen  it  before,  Tredgold,"  he  said, 
shortly. 

"  It's  a  fine  old  building,"  said  the  other.  "  Bin- 
chester  ought  to  be  proud  of  it.  Why,  here  we  are 
at  Captain  Bowers's !  " 

"  The  house  has  been  next  to  the  church  for  a 
couple  o'  hundred  years,"  retorted  his  friend. 

"  Let's  go  in,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold.  "  Strike  while 
the  iron's  hot.  At  any  rate,"  he  concluded,  as  Mr. 
Chalk  voiced  feeble  objections,  "  we  can  see  how 
the  land  lies." 

He  knocked  at  the  door  and  then,  stepping  aside, 
left  Mr.  Chalk  to  lead  the  way  in.  Captain  Bow- 
ers, who  was  sitting  with  Prudence,  looked  up  at 
their  entrance,  and  putting  down  his  newspaper  ex- 
tended a  hearty  welcome. 

54 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Chalk  didn't  like  to  pass  without  looking  In,'* 
said  Mr.  Tredgold,  "  and  I  haven't  seen  you  for 
some  time.     You  know  Stobell?  " 

The  captain  nodded,  and  Mr.  Chalk,  pale  with  ex- 
citement, accepted  his  accustomed  pipe  from  the 
hands  of  Miss  Drewitt  and  sat  nervously  awaiting 
events.  Mr.  Tasker  set  out  the  whisky,  and,  Miss 
Drewitt  avowing  a  fondness  for  smoke  in  other  peo- 
ple, a  comfortable  haze  soon  filled  the  room.  Mr. 
Tredgold,  with  a  significant  glance  at  Mr.  Chalk, 
said  that  it  reminded  him  of  a  sea-fog. 

It  only  reminded  Mr.  Chalk,  however,  of  a  smoky 
chimney  from  which  he  had  once  suffered,  and  he  at 
once  entered  into  minute  details.  The  theme  was 
an  Inspiriting  one,  and  before  Mr.  Tredgold  could 
hark  back  to  the  sea  again  Mr.  Stobell  was  discours- 
ing, almost  eloquently  for  him,  upon  drains.  From 
drains  to  the  shortcomings  of  the  district  council  they 
progressed  by  natural  and  easy  stages,  and  it  was 
not  until  Miss  Drewitt  had  withdrawn  to  the  clearer 
atmosphere  above  that  a  sudden  ominous  silence  en- 
sued, which  Mr.  Chalk  saw  clearly  he  was  expected 
to  break. 

"  I — I've  been  telling  them  some  of  your  ad- 
ventures," he  said,  desperately,  as  he  glanced 
at  the  captain;  "they're  both  Interested  In  such 
things." 

The    latter    gave    a    slight    start    and    glanced 

55 


Dialstone   Lane 

shrewdly  at  his  visitors.     "  Aye,  aye,"  he  said,  com- 
posedly. 

*'  Very  interesting,  some  of  them,"  murmured  Mr. 
Tredgold.  "  I  suppose  you'll  have  another  voyage 
or  two  before  you've  done?     One,  at  any  rate." 

"  No,"  said  the  captain,  "  I've  had  my  share  of 
the  sea ;  other  men  may  have  a  turn  now.  There's 
nothing  to  take  me  out  again — nothing." 

Mr.  Tredgold  coughed  and  murmured  something 
about  breaking  off  old  habits  too  suddenly. 

*'  It's  a  fine  career,"  sighed  Mr.  Chalk. 

**  A  manly  life,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  emphatically. 

"  It's  like  every  other  profession,  it  has  two  sides 
to  it,"  said  the  captain. 

"  It  is  not  so  well  paid  as  it  should  be,"  said  the 
wily  Tredgold,  "  but  I  suppose  one  gets  chances  of 
making  money  in  outside  ways  sometimes." 

The  captain  assented,  and  told  of  a  steward  of 
his  who  had  made  a  small  fortune  by  selling  Japa- 
nese curios  to  people  who  didn't  understand  them. 

The  conversation  was  interesting,  but  extremely 
distasteful  to  a  business  man  intent  upon  business. 
Mr.  Stobell  took  his  pipe  out  of  his  mouth  and 
cleared  his  throat.  "  Why,  you  might  build  a  hos- 
pital with  it,"  he  burst  out,  impatiently. 

"  Build  a  hospital !  "  repeated  the  astonished  cap- 
tain, as  Mr.  Chalk  bent  suddenly  to  do  up  his  shoe- 
lace. 

S6 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Think  of  the  orphans  you  could  be  a  father  to !  '* 
added  Mr.  Stobell,  making  the  most  of  an  unwonted 
fit  of  altruism. 

The  captain  looked  inquiringly  at  Mr.  Tredgold. 

"  And  widows,"  said  Mr.  Stobell,  and,  putting 
his  pipe  in  his  mouth  as  a  sign  that  he  had  finished 
his  remarks,  gazed  stolidly  at  the  company. 

"  Stobell  must  be  referring  to  a  story  Chalk  told 
us  of  some  precious  stones  you  buried,  I  think," 
said  Mr.  Tredgold,  reddening.  "  Aren't  you, 
Stobell?" 

"  Of  course  I  am,"  said  his  friend.  "  You  know 
that." 

Captain  Bowers  glanced  at  Mr.  Chalk,  but  that 
gentleman  was  still  busy  with  his  shoe-lace,  only 
looking  up  when  Mr.  Tredgold,  taking  the  bull  by 
the  horns,  made  the  captain  a  plain,  straightforward 
offer  to  fit  out  and  give  him  the  command  of  an 
expedition  to  recover  the  treasure.  In  a  speech 
which  included  the  benevolent  Mr.  Stobell's  hos- 
pitals, widows,  and  orphans,  he  pointed  out  a  score 
of  reasons  why  the  captain  should  consent,  and 
wound  up  with  a  glowing  picture  of  Miss  Drewitt 
as  the  heiress  of  the  wealthiest  man  in  Binchester. 
The  captain  heard  him  patiently  to  an  end  and  then 
shook  his  head. 

"  I  passed  my  word,"  he  said,  stiffly. 

Mr.  Stobell  took  his  pipe  out  of  his  mouth  again 
57 


Dialstone  Lane 

to  offer  a  little  encouragement.  "  Tredgold  has 
broke  his  word  before  now,"  he  observed;  "  he's  got 
quite  a  name  for  it." 

"  But  you  would  go  out  if  it  were  not  for  that?  " 
inquired  Tredgold,  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  this  re- 
mark. 

"Naturally,"  said  the  captain,  smiling;  "but, 
then,  you  see  I  did." 

Mr.  Tredgold  drummed  with  his  fingers  on  the 
arms  of  his  chair,  and  after  a  little  hesitation  asked 
as  a  great  favour  to  be  permitted  to  see  the  map. 
As  an  estate  agent,  he  said,  he  took  a  professional 
interest  in  plans  of  all  kinds. 

Captain  Bowers  rose,  and  in  the  midst  of  an  ex- 
pectant silence  took  the  map  from  the  bureau,  and 
placing  it  on  the  table  kept  it  down  with  his  fist. 
The  others  drew  near  and  inspected  it. 

"  Nobody  but  Captain  Bowers  has  ever  seen  the 
other  side,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  impressively. 

"  Except  my  niece,"  interposed  the  captain.  "  She 
wanted  to  see  it,  and  I  trust  her  as  I  would  trust 
myself.    She  thinks  the  same  as  I  do  about  it." 

His  stubby  forefinger  travelled  slowly  round  the 
coast-line  until,  coming  to  the  extreme  south-west 
corner,  it  stopped,  and  a  mischievous  smile  creased 
his  beard. 

"  It's  buried  here,"  he  observed.  "  All  you've 
got  to  do  is  to  find  the  island  and  dig  In  that  spot." 

58 


y*    \ 


Dialstone  Lane 


Mr.  Chalk  laughed  and  shook  his  head  as  at  a 
choice  piece  of  waggishness. 

"  Suppose,"   said   Mr.   Tredgold,   slowly — "  sup- 


**The  others  drew  near  and  inspected  it.'* 

pose   anybody   found   It   without   your   connivance, 
would  you  take  your  share?  " 

'*  Let  'em  find  it  first,"  said  the  captain. 

"  Yes,  but  would  you?  "  inquired  Mr.  Chalk. 
59 


Dialstone   Lane 

Captain  Bowers  took  up  the  map  and  returned 
it  to  its  place  in  the  bureau.  "  You  go  and  find  it," 
he  said,  with  a  genial  smile. 

"  You  give  us  permission?  "  demanded  Tredgold. 

"  Certainly,"  grinned  the  captain.  "  I  give  you 
permission  to  go  and  dig  over  all  the  islands  in  the 
Pacific;  there's  a  goodish  number  of  them,  and  it's 
a  fairly  common  shape." 

"  It  seems  to  me  it's  nobody's  property,"  said 
Tredgold,  slowly.  "  That  is  to  say,  it's  anybody's 
that  finds  it.  It  isn't  your  property.  Captain  Bowers? 
You  lay  no  claim  to  it?  " 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  captain.  "  It's  nothing  to  do 
with  me.  You  go  and  find  it,"  he  repeated,  with 
enjoyment. 

Mr.  Tredgold  laughed  too,  and  his  eye  travelled 
mechanically  towards  the  bureau.  "  If  we  do,"  he 
said,  cordially,  "  you  shall  have  your  share." 

The  captain  thanked  him  and,  taking  up  the  bot- 
tle, refilled  their  glasses.  Then,  catching  the  dull, 
brooding  eye  of  Mr.  Stobell  as  that  plain-spoken 
man  sat  in  a  brown  study  trying  to  separate  the 
serious  from  the  jocular,  he  drank  success  to  their 
search.  He  was  about  to  give  vent  to  further  pleas- 
antries when  he  was  stopped  by  the  mysterious  be- 
haviour of  Mr.  Chalk,  who,  first  laying  a  finger  on 
his  lip  to  ensure  silence,  frowned  severely  and 
nodded  at  the  door  leading  to  the  kitchen. 

60 


Dialstone  Lane 

The  other  three  looked  in  the  direction  Indicated. 
The  door  stood  half  open,  and  the  silhouette  of  a 
young  woman  in  a  large  hat  put  the  upper  panels  in 
shadow.  The  captain  rose  and,  with  a  vigorous 
thrust  of  his  foot,  closed  the  door  with  a  bang. 

"  Eavesdropping,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  in  a  tense 
whisper. 

"  There'll  be  a  rival  expedition,"  said  the  captain, 
falling  in  with  his  mood.  "  I've  already  warned 
that  young  woman  off  once.  You'd  better  start  to- 
night." 

He  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  surveyed  the 
company  pleasantly.  Somewhat  to  Mr.  Chalk's  dis- 
appointment Mr.  Tredgold  began  to  discuss  agri- 
culture, and  they  were  still  on  that  theme  when  they 
rose  tqd  depart  some  time  later.  Tredgold  and  Chalk 
bade  the  captain  a  cordial  good-night;  but  Stobell, 
a  creature  of  primitive  impulses,  found  it  difficult 
to  shake  hands  with  him.  On  the  way  home  he 
expressed  an  ardent  desire  to  tell  the  captain  what 
men  of  sense  thought  of  him. 

The  captain  lit  another  pipe  after  they  had  gone, 
and  for  some  time  sat  smoking  and  thinking  over 
the  events  of  the  evening.  Then  Mr.  Tasker's  sec- 
ond infringement  of  discipline  occurred  to  him,  and, 
stretching  out  his  hand,  he  rang  the  bell. 

*' Has  that  young  woman  gone?"  he  inquired,, 
cautiously,  as  Mr.  Tasker  appeared. 

6i 


Dialstone  Lane 

*'  Yesslr,"  was  the  reply. 

"  What  about  your  articles?  "  demanded  the  cap- 
tain, with  sudden  loudness.  "  What  do  you  mean 
by  It?" 

Mr.  Tasker  eyed  him  forlornly.  "  It  ain't  my 
fault,"  he  said,  at  last.      "  I  don't  want  her." 

"  Eh?  "  said  the  other,  sternly.  "  Don't  talk  non- 
sense.    What  do  you  have  her  here  for,  then?  " 

"  Because  I  can't  help  myself,"  said  Mr.  Tasker, 
desperately;  "that's  why.  She's  took  a  fancy  to 
me,  and,  that  being  so,  it  would  take  more  than  you 
and  me  to  keep  'er  away." 

"  Rubbish,"  said  his  master. 

Mr.  Tasker  smiled  wanly.  "  That's  my  reward 
for  being  steady,"  he  said,  with  some  bitterness; 
"  that's  what  comes  of  having  a  good  name  in  the 
place.     I  get  Selina  Vickers  after  me." 

"  You — you  must  have  asked  her  to  come  here  in 
the  first  place,"  said  the  astonished  captain. 

''''Ask  her?"  repeated  Mr.  Tasker,  with  respect- 
ful scorn.     ''''Ask  her?     She  don't  want  no  asking." 

"What  does  she  come  for,  then?"  inquired  the 
other. 

"  Me,"  said  Mr.  Tasker,  brokenly.  "  I  never 
dreamt  o'  such  a  thing.  I  was  going  'er  way  one 
night — about  three  weeks  ago,  it  was — and  I  walked 
with  her  as  far  as  her  road — Mint  Street.  Some- 
how it  got  put  about  that  we  were  walking  out.     A 

62 


Dialstone  Lane 

week  afterwards  she  saw  me  in  Harris's,  the  grocer's, 
and  waited  outside  for  me  till  I  come  out  and  walked 
'ome  with  me.  After  she  came  In  the  other  night 
I  found  we  was  keeping  company.  To-night — to- 
night she  got  a  ring  out  o'  me,  and  now  we're 
engaged." 

"  What  on  earth  did  you  give  her  the  ring  for 
If  you  don't  want  her?  "  Inquired  the  captain,  eyeing 
him  with  genuine  concern. 

"Ah,  It  seems  easy,  sir,"  said  the  unfortunate; 
"  but  you  don't  know  Sellna.  She  bought  the  ring 
and  said  I  was  to  pay  It  off  a  shIUIng  a  week.  She 
took  the  first  shilling  to-night." 

His  master  sat  back  and  regarded  him  In  amaze- 
ment. 

"  You  don't  know  Sellna,  sir,"  repeated  Mr. 
Tasker,  In  reply  to  this  manifestation.  "  She  always 
gets  her  own  way.  Her  father  ain't  'It  'er  mother 
not  since  Sellna  was  seventeen.  He  dursent.  The 
last  time  Sellna  went  for  him  tooth  and  nail; 
smashed  all  the  plates  off  the  dresser  throwing  'em, 
at  him,  and  ended  by  chasing  of  him  up  the  road  In 
his  shirt-sleeves." 

The  captain  grunted. 

"  That  was  two  years  ago,"  continued  Mr. 
Tasker;  "  and  his  spirit's  quite  broke.  He  'as  to 
give  all  his  money  except  a  shilling  a  week  to  his 
wife,  and  he's  not  allowed  to  go  into  pubs.     If  he 

63 


Dialstone  Lane 

does  It's  no  good,  because  they  won't  serve  'im.  If 
they  do  Selina  goes  in  next  morning  and  gives  them 
a  piece  of  'er  mind.     She  don't  care  who's  there  or 


"All  she  says  is  she's  not  afraid  of  you,  nor  six  like  you." 

what  she  says,  and  the  consequence  is  Mr.  VIckers 
can't  get  served  in  Binchester  for  love  or  money. 
That'll  show  you  what  she  Is." 

64 


Dialstone  Lane 

**  Well,  tell  her  I  won't  have  her  here,"  said  the 
captain,  rising.      "  Good-night." 

"  I've  told  her  over  and  over  again,  sir,"  was  the 
reply,  "  and  all  she  says  is  she's  not  afraid  of  you, 
nor  six  like  you." 

The  captain  fell  back  silent,  and  Mr.  Tasker, 
pausing  In  a  respectful  attitude,  watched  him  wist- 
fully. The  captain's  brows  v/ere  bent  In  thought, 
and  Mr.  Tasker,  reminding  himself  that  crews  had 
trembled  at  his  nod  and  that  all  were  silent  when 
he  spoke,  felt  a  flutter  of  hope. 

"  Well,"  said  the  captain,  sharply,  as  he  turned 
and  caught  sight  of  him,  "  what  are  you  waiting 
there  for?  " 

Mr.  Tasker  drifted  towards  the  door  which  led 
upstairs. 

"  I — I  thought  you  were  thinking  of  something 
we  could  do  to  prevent  her  coming,  sir,"  he  said, 
slowly.  "  It's  hard  on  me,  because  as  a  matter  of 
fact " 

"Well?"  said  the  captain. 

"  I — I've  'ad  my  eye  on  another  young  lady  for 
some  time,"  concluded  Mr.  Tasker. 

He  was  standing  on  the  bottom  stair  as  he  spoke, 
with  his  hand  on  the  latch.  Under  the  baleful  stare 
with  which  the  indignant  captain  favoured  him,  he 
closed  it  softly  and  mounted  heavily  to  bed. 


65 


CHAPTER    V 

MR.  CHALK'S  expedition  to  the  Southern 
Seas  became  a  standing  joke  with  the 
captain,  and  he  waylaid  him  on  several 
occasions  to  Inquire  Into  the  progress  he  was  mak- 
ing, and  to  give  him  advice  suitable  for  all  known 
emergencies  at  sea,  together  with  a  few  that  are 
tinknown.  Even  Mr.  Chalk  began  to  tire  of  his 
pleasantries,  and,  after  listening  to  a  surprising  ac- 
count of  a  Scotch  vessel  which  always  sailed  back- 
wards when  the  men  whistled  on  Sundays,  signified 
his  displeasure  by  staying  away  from  Dialstone 
Lane  for  some  time. 

Deprived  of  his  society  the  captain  consoled  him- 
self with  that  of  Edward  Tredgold,  a  young  man 
for  whom  he  was  beginning  to  entertain  a  strong 
partiality,  and  whose  observations  of  BInchester 
folk,  flavoured  with  a  touch  of  good-natured  malice, 
were  a  source  of  never-failing  interest. 

"  He  is  very  wide-awake,"  he  said  to  his  niece, 
"  There  Isn't  much  that  escapes  him.." 

Miss  Drewitt,  gazing  idly  out  of  window,  said 
that  she  had  not  noticed  it. 

66 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Very  clever  at  his  business,  I  understand,"  said 
the  captain. 

His  niece  said  that  he  had  always  appeared  to 


•*  He  waylaid  him  on  several  occasions  to  inquire  int(    the  progress  he  was 

making." 

her — when  she  had  happened  to  give  the  matter  a 
thought — as  a  picture  of  indolence. 

"Ah!  that's  only  his  manner,"  replied  the  other, 
warmly.  **  He's  a  young  man  that's  going  to  get 
on;  he's  going  to  make  his  mark.  His  father's  got 
money,  and  he'll  make  more  of  it." 

67 


Dialstone  Lane 

Something  in  the  tone  of  his  voice  attracted  his 
niece's  attention,  and  she  looked  at  him  sharply  as 
an  almost  incredible  suspicion  as  to  the  motive  of 
this  conversation  flashed  on  her. 

*'  I  don't  like  to  see  young  men  too  fond  of 
money,"  she  observed,  sedately. 

"  I  didn't  say  that,"  said  the  captain,  eagerly. 
"  If  anything,  he  is  too  open-handed.  What  I  meant 
was  that  he  isn't  lazy." 

"  He  seems  to  be  very  fond  of  coming  to  see 
you,"  said  Prudence,  by  way  of  encouragement. 

"  Ah!  "  said  the  captain,  "  and " 

He  stopped  abruptly  as  the  girl  faced  round. 

"  And?  "  she  prompted. 

*'  And  the  crow's-nest,"  concluded  the  captain, 
somewhat  lamely. 

There  was  no  longer  room  for  doubt.  Scarce  two 
months  ashore  and  he  was  trying  his  hand  at  match- 
making. Fresh  from  a  world  of  obedient  satellites, 
and  ships  responding  to  the  lightest  touch  of  the 
helm,  he  was  venturing  with  all  the  confidence  of 
ignorance  upon  the  most  delicate  of  human  under- 
takings. Miss  Drewitt,  eyeing  him  with  perfect 
comprehension  and  some  little  seventy,  sat  aghast  at 
his  hardihood. 

"  He's  very  fond  of  going  up  there,"  said  Captain 
Bowers,  somewhat  discomfited. 

"  Yes,  he  and  Joseph  have  much  In  common," 
68 


Dialstone   Lane 

remarked  Miss  Drewitt,  casually.     "  They're  some- 
what alike,  too,  I  always  fancy." 

"  Alike!  "  exclaimed  the  astonished  captain. 
"  Edward  Tredgold  like  Joseph?  Why,  you  must 
be  dreaming." 

"  Perhaps  it's  only  my  fancy,"  conceded  Miss 
Drewitt,  "  but  I  always  think  that  I  can  see  a  like- 
ness." 

"  There  isn't  the  slightest  resemblance  in  the 
world,"  said  the  captain.  "  There  isn't  a  single  fea- 
ture alike.  Besides,  haven't  you  ever  noticed  what  a 
stupid  expression  Joseph  has  got?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Miss  Drewitt. 

The  captain  scratched  his  ear  and  regarded  her 
closely,  but  Miss  Drewitt's  face  was  statuesque  in 
its  repose. 

"  There — there's  nothing  wrong  with  your  eyes, 
my  dear?  "  he  ventured,  anxiously — "  short  sight  or 
anything  of  that  sort?  " 

"  I  don't  think  so,"  said  his  niece,  gravely. 

Captain  Bowers  shifted  in  his  chair  and,  con- 
vinced that  such  a  superficial  observer  must  have 
overlooked  many  things,  pointed  out  several  admira- 
ble qualities  in  Edward  Tredgold  which  he  felt  sure 
must  have  escaped  her  notice.  The  surprise  with 
which  Miss  Drewitt  greeted  them  all  confirmed  him 
in  this  opinion,  and  he  was  glad  to  think  that  he  had 
called  her  attention  to  them  ere  it  was  too  late. 

69 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  He's  very  popular  in  Binchester,"  he  said,  im- 
pressively. "  Chalk  told  me  that  he  is  surprised  he 
has  not  been  married  before  now,  seeing  the  way 
that  he  is  run  after." 

"Dear  me!"  said  his  niece,  with  suppressed 
viciousness. 

The  captain  smiled.  He  resolved  to  stand  out 
for  a  long  engagement  when  Mr.  Tredgold  came  to 
him,  and  to  stipulate  also  that  they  should  not  leave 
Binchester.  An  admirer  in  London  to  whom  his 
niece  had  once  or  twice  alluded — forgetting  to  men- 
tion that  he  was  only  ten — began  to  fade  into  what 
the  captain  considered  proper  obscurity, 

Mr.  Edward  Tredgold  reaped  some  of  the  bene- 
fits of  this  conversation  when  he  called  a  day  or 
two  afterwards.  The  captain  was  out,  but,  encour- 
aged by  Mr.  Tasker,  who  represented  that  his  re- 
turn might  be  looked  for  at  any  moment,  he  waited 
for  over  an  hour,  and  was  on  the  point  of  departure 
when  Miss  Drewitt  entered. 

"  I  should  think  that  you  must  be  tired  of  wait- 
ing? "  she  said,  when  he  had  explained. 

"  I  was  just  going,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  as  he 
resumed  his  seat.  "  If  you  had  been  five  minutes 
later  you  would  have  found  an  empty  chair.  I  sup- 
pose Captain  Bowers  won't  be  long  now?  " 

*'  He  might  be,"  said  the  girl. 

"  I'll  give  him  a  little  while  longer  if  I  may,"  said 

70 

\ 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Tredgold.  "I'm  very  glad  now  that  I  waited 
— very  glad  indeed." 

There  was  so  much  meaning  in  his  voice  that  Miss 
Drewitt  felt  compelled  to  ask  the  reason. 

"  Because  I  was  tired  when  I  came  in  and  the 
rest  has  done  me  good,"  explained  Mr.  Tredgold, 
with  much  simplicity.  "  Do  you  know  that  I  some- 
times think  I  work  too  hard?  " 

Miss  Drewitt  raised  her  eyebrows  slightly  and 
said,  "Indeed! — I  am  very  glad  that  you  are 
rested,"  she  added,  after  a  pause. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  gratefully. 
"  I  came  to  see  the  captain  about  a  card-table  I've 
discovered  for  him.  It's  a  Queen  Anne,  I  believe; 
one  of  the  best  things  I've  ever  seen.  It's  poked 
away  in  the  back  room  of  a  cottage,  and  I  only  dis- 
covered it  by  accident." 

"  It's  very  kind  of  you,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  coldly, 
"  but  I  don't  think  that  my  uncle  wants  any  more 
furniture;  the  room  Is  pretty  full  now." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  It  for  your  room,"  said  Mr. 
Tredgold, 

"  Thank  you,  but  my  room  Is  full,"  said  the  girl, 
sharply. 

"  It  would  go  in  that  odd  little  recess  by  the  fire- 
place," continued  the  unmoved  Mr.  Tredgold.  "  We 
tried  to  get  a  small  table  for  It  before  you  came, 
but  we  couldn't  see  anything  we  fancied.     I  prom- 

71 


Dialstone  Lane 

ised  the  captain  I'd  keep  my  eyes  open  for  some- 
thing." 

Miss  Drewitt  looked  at  him  with  growing  indig- 
nation, and  wondered  w^hether  Mr.  Chalk  had 
added  her  to  his  list  of  the  victims  of  Mr.  Tred- 
gold's  blandishments. 

"  Why  not  buy  it  for  yourself?  "  she  demanded. 

"  No  money,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  shaking  his 
head.  "  You  forget  that  I  lost  two  pounds  to  Chalk 
the  other  day,  owing  to  your  efforts." 

"  Well,  I  don't  wish  for  it,"  said  Miss  Drewitt, 
firmly.  "  Please  don't  say  anything  to  my  uncle 
about  it." 

Mr.  Tredgold  looked  disappointed.  *'  As  you 
please,  of  course,"  he  remarked. 

*'  Old  things  always  seem  a  little  bit  musty,"  said 
the  girl,  softening  a  little.  "  I  should  think  that  I 
saw  the  ghosts  of  dead  and  gone  players  sitting  round 
the  table.  I  remember  reading  a  story  about  that 
once." 

"  Well,  what  about  the  other  things?  "  said  Mr. 
Tredgold.  "  Look  at  those  old  chairs,  full  of  ghosts 
sitting  piled  up  in  each  other's  laps — there's  no  rea- 
son why  you  should  only  see  one  sitter  at  a  time. 
Think  of  that  beautifully-carved  four-poster." 

"  My  uncle  bought  that,"  said  Miss  Drewitt, 
somewhat  irrelevantly. 

"  Yes,  but  I  got  it  for  him,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold. 
72 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  You  can't  pick  up  a  thing  like  that  at  a  moment's 
notice — I  had  my  eye  on  it  for  years;  all  the  time 
old  Brown  was  bedridden,  in  fact.  I  used  to  go  and 
see  him  and  take  him  tobacco,  and  he  promised  me 
that  I  should  have  it  when  he  had  done  v/ith  it." 

"  Done  with  it?  "  repeated  the  girl,  in  a  startled 
voice.     "  Did — did  he  get  another  one,  then?  " 

Mr.  Tredgold,  roused  from  the  pleasurable  remi- 
niscences of  a  collector,  remembered  himself  sud- 
denly. "  Oh,  yes,  he  got  another  one,"  he  said, 
soothingly. 

"  Is — is  he  bedridden  now?  "  inquired  the  girl. 

"  I  haven't  seen  him  for  some  time,"  said  Mr. 
Tredgold,  truthfully.  "  He  gave  up  smoking  and 
— and  then  I  didn't  go  to  see  him,  you  know." 

"  He's  dead,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  shivering.  "  He 
died  in Oh,  you  are  horrible !  " 

"  That  carving "  began  Mr.  Tredgold. 

"  Don't  talk  about  it,  please,"  said  the  indignant 
Miss  Drewitt.  "  I  can't  understand  why  my  uncle 
should  have  listened  to  your  advice  at  all;  you  must 
have  forced  it  on  him.  I'm  sure  he  didn't  know  how 
you  got  it." 

"  Yes,  he  did,"  said  the  other.  "  In  fact,  it  was 
intended  for  his  room  at  first.  He  was  quite  pleased 
with  it." 

"  Why  did  he  alter  his  mind,  then?  "  inquired  the 
girl. 

73 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.   Tredgold   looked  suddenly   at   the   opposite 
wall,   but   his   lips   quivered   and   his   eyes  watered. 


*'  '  Done  with  it  ?  '   repeated  the  girl,  in  a  startled  voice. 

Miss  Drewitt,  reading  these  signs  aright,  was  justly 
incensed. 

*'  I  don't  beheve  it,"  she  cried. 
74 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  He  said  that  you  didn't  know  and  he  did,"  said 
Mr.  Tredgold,  apologetically.  "  I  talk,  too  much. 
I'd  no  business  to  let  out  about  old  Brown,  but  I 
forgot  for  the  moment — sailors  are  always  prone  to 
childish  superstitions." 

"Are  you  talking  about  my  uncle?"  Inquired 
Miss  Drewitt,  with  ominous  calm. 

"  They  were  his  own  words,"  said  the  other. 

Miss  Drewitt,  feeling  herself  baffled,  sat  for  some 
time  wondering  how  to  find  fault  politely  with  the 
young  man  before  her.  Her  mind  was  full  of  sub- 
ject-matter, but  the  politeness  easily  eluded  her.  She 
threw  out  after  a  time  the  suggestion  that  his  pres- 
ence at  the  bedside  of  sick  people  was  not  likely  to 
add  to  their  comfort. 

Captain  Bowers  entered  before  the  aggrieved  Mr. 
Tredgold  could  think  of  a  fitting  reply,  and  after  a 
hasty  greeting  insisted  upon  his  staying  for  a  cup  of 
tea.  By  a  glance  in  the  visitor's  direction  and  a  faint 
smile  Miss  Drewitt  was  understood  to  endorse  the 
Invitation. 

The  captain's  satisfaction  at  finding  them  together 
was  complete,  but  a  little  misunderstanding  was 
caused  all  round,  when  Mr.  Tasker  came  in  with  the 
tea,  by  the  series  of  nods  and  blinks  by  which 
the  captain  strove  to  call  his  niece's  attention  to 
various  facial  and  other  differences  between  his 
servant    and    their    visitor.      Mr.    Tredgold,    after 

75 


Dialstone   Lane 

standing  it  for  some  time,  created  a  little  conster- 
nation by  Inquiring  whether  he  had  got  a  smut  on 
his  nose. 

The  captain  was  practically  the  only  talker  at  tea, 
but  the  presence  of  two  attentive  listeners  prevented 
him  from  discovering  the  fact.  He  described  his 
afternoon's  ramble  at  such  length  that  it  was  get- 
ting late  by  the  time  they  had  finished. 

"  Stay  and  smoke  a  pipe,"  he  said,  as  he  sought 
his  accustomed  chair, 

Mr.  Tredgold  assented  in  the  usual  manner  by 
saying  that  he  ought  to  be  going,  and  instead  of  one 
pipe  smoked  three  or  four.  The  light  failed  and 
the  lamp  was  lit,  but  he  still  stayed  on  until  the 
sound  of  subdued  but  argumentative  voices  beyond 
the  drawn  blind  apprised  them  of  other  visitors. 
The  thin  tones  of  Mr.  Chalk  came  through  the 
open  window,  apparently  engaged  in  argument  with 
a  bear.  A  faint  sound  of  hustling  and  growling,  fol- 
lowed by  a  gentle  bumping  against  the  door,  seemed 
to  indicate  that  he — or  perhaps  the  bear — was  hav- 
ing recourse  to  physical  force. 

"  Come  In,"  cried  the  captain. 

The  door  opened  and  Mr.  Chalk,  somewhat 
flushed,  entered,  leading  Mr.  Stobell.  The  latter 
gentleman  seemed  In  a  surly  and  reluctant  frame  of 
mind,  and  having  exchanged  greetings  subsided 
silently  into  a  chair  and  sat  eyeing  Mr.  Chalk,  who, 

76 


Dialstone   Lane 

somewhat  nervous  as  to  his  reception  after  so  long 
an  absence,  plunged  at  once  into  conversation. 

"  I  thought  I  should  find  you  here,"  he  said,  pleas- 
antly, to  Edward  Tredgold. 


**  Mr.  Chalk  entered,  leading  Mr.  Stobell." 

"Why?"  demanded  Mr.  Tredgold,  with  what 
Mr.  Chalk  thought  unnecessary  abruptness. 

"  Well — well,  because  you  generally  are  here,  I 
suppose,"  he  said,  somewhat  taken  aback. 

Mr.  Tredgold  favoured  him  with  a  scowl,  and  a 
somewhat  uncomfortable  silence  ensued. 

"  Stobell  wanted  to  see  you  again,"  said  Mr. 
17 


Dialstone  Lane 

Chalk,  turning  to  the  captain.     "  He's  done  nothing 
but  talk  about  you  ever  since  he  was  here  last." 

Captain  Bowers  said  he  was  glad  to  see  him;  Mr. 
Stobell  returned  the  courtesy  with  an  odd  noise  in 
his  throat  and  a  strange  glare  at  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  I  met  him  to-night,"  continued  that  gentleman, 
"  and  nothing  would  do  for  him  but  to  come  on 
here." 

It  was  evident  from  the  laboured  respiration  of 
the  ardent  Mr.  Stobell,  coupled  with  a  word  or  two 
which  had  filtered  through  the  window,  that  the  in- 
genious Mr.  Chalk  was  using  him  as  a  stalking-horse. 
From  the  fact  that  Mr.  Stobell  made  no  denial  it 
was  none  the  less  evident,  despite  the  growing  black- 
ness of  his  appearance,  that  he  was  a  party  to  the 
arrangement.    The  captain  began  to  see  the  reason. 

"  It's  all  about  that  island,"  explained  Mr.  Chalk; 
*'  he  can  talk  of  nothing  else." 

The  captain  suppressed  a  groan,  and  Mr.  Tred- 
gold  endeavoured,  but  without  success,  to  exchange 
smiles  with  Miss  Drewitt. 

"  Aye,  aye,"  said  the  captain,  desperately. 

"  He's  as  eager  as  a  child  that's  going  to  its  first 
pantomime,"  continued  Mr,  Chalk. 

Mr.  Stobell's  appearance  was  so  alarming  that  he 
broke  off  and  eyed  him  with  growing  uneasiness. 

*'  You  were  talking  about  a  pantomime,"  said  Mr. 
Tredgold,  after  a  long  pause. 

78 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Chalk  cast  an  Imploring  glance  at  Mr.  Sto- 
bell  to  remind  him  of  their  compact,  and  resumed. 

"  Talks  of  nothing  else,"  he  said,  watching  his 
friend,  "  and  can't  sleep  for  thinking  of  It." 

"  That's  bad,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  sympathetic- 
ally. "  Has  he  tried  shutting  his  eyes  and  counting 
sheep  jumping  over  a  stile?  " 

"  No,  he  ain't,^^  said  Mr.  Stobell,  exploding  sud- 
denly, and  turning  a  threatening  glance  on  the 
speaker.  "  And  what's  more,"  he  added.  In  more 
ordinary  tones,  "  he  ain't  going  to." 

"  We — we've  been  thinking  of  that  trip  again," 
Interposed  Mr.  Chalk,  hurriedly.  "  The  more  Sto- 
bell thinks  of  It  the  more  he  likes  It.  You  know 
what  you  said  the  last  time  we  were  here?  " 

The  captain  wrinkled  his  brows  and  looked  at 
him  Inquiringly. 

"  Told  us  to  go  and  find  the  Island,"  Mr.  Chalk 
reminded  him.  "  You  said,  '  I've  shown  you  a  map 
of  the  Island;  now  go  and  find  It.'  " 

"  Oh,  aye,"  said  the  captain,  with  a  laugh,  "  so  I 
did." 

"  Stobell  was  wondering,"  continued  Mr.  Chalk, 
*'  whether  you  couldn't  give  us  just  a  little  bit  more 
of  a  hint,  without  breaking  your  word,  of  course." 

"  I  don't  see  how  It  could  be  done,"  replied  the 
captain,  pondering;  "  a  promise  Is  a  promise." 

Mr.  Chalk's  face  fell.  He  moved  his  chair  aside 
79 


Dialstone  Lane 

mechanically  to  make  room  for  Mr.  Tasker,  who 
had  entered  with  a  tray  and  glasses,  and  sat  staring 
at  the  floor.  Then  he  raised  his  eyes  and  met  a 
significant  glance  from  Mr.  Stobell. 

"  I  suppose  we  may  have  another  look  at  the 
map?"  he  said,  softly;  "just  a  glance  to  freshen 
our  memories." 

The  captain,  who  had  drawn  his  chair  to  the 
table  to  preside  over  the  tray,  looked  up  impatiently. 

"  No,"  he  said,  brusquely. 

Mr.  Chalk  looked  hurt.  "  I'm  very  sorry,"  he 
said,  in  surprise  at  the  captain's  tone.  "  You  showed 
it  to  us  the  other  day,  and  I  didn't  think " 

"  The  fact  is,"  said  the  captain,  in  a  more  gentle 
voice — "  the  fact  is,  I  can't." 

"  Can't?  "  repeated  the  other. 

"  It  is  not  very  pleasant  to  keep  on  refusing 
friends,"  said  the  captain,  making  amends  for  his 
harshness  by  pouring  a  serious  overdose  of  whisky 
Into  Mr.  Chalk's  glass,  "  and  it's  only  natural  for 
you  to  be  anxious  about  it,  so  I  removed  the  tempta- 
tion out  of  my  way." 

"Removed  the  temptation?"  repeated  Mr. 
Chalk. 

"  I  burnt  the  map,"  said  the  captain,  with  a  smile. 

"  Burnt  it?  "  gasped  Mr.  Chalk.    "  Burnt  it?  " 

"  Burnt  it  to  ashes,"  said  the  captain,  jovially. 
*'  It's  a  load  off  my  mind.     I  ought  to  have  done  it 

80 


Dialstone  Lane 

before.  In  fact,  I  never  ought  to  have  made  the 
map  at  all." 

Mr.  Chalk  stared  at  him  In  speechless  dismay. 

"  Try  that,"  said  the  captain,  handing  Mr.  Sto- 
bell  his  glass. 

Mr.  Stobell  took  it  from  mere  force  of  habit,  and 
sat  holding  it  in  his  hand  as  though  he  had  for- 
gotten what  to  do  with  it. 

"  I  did  it  yesterday  morning,"  said  the  captain, 
noticing  their  consternation.  "  I  had  just  lit  my 
pipe  after  breakfast,  and  I  suppose  the  match  put 
me  in  mind  of  it.  I  took  out  the  map  and  set  light 
to  it  at  Cape  Silvio.  The  flame  ran  half-way  round 
the  coast  and  then  popped  through  the  middle  of 
the  paper  and  converted  Mount  Lonesome  into  a 
volcano." 

He  gave  a  boisterous  laugh  and,  raising  his  glass, 
nodded  to  Mr.  Stobell.  Mr.  Stobell,  who  was  just 
about  to  drink,  lowered  his  glass  again  and  frowned. 

*'  I  don't  see  anything  to  laugh  at,"  he  said,  de- 
liberately. 

"  He  can't  have  been  listening,"  said  Mr.  Tred- 
gold,  in  a  low  voice,  to  Miss  Drewitt. 

"  Well,  it's  done  now,"  said  the  captain,  genially. 
"  You — you're  not  going?  " 

"  Yes,  I  am,"  said  Mr.  Stobell. 

He  bade  them  good-night,  and  then  pausing  at 
the  door  stood  and  surveyed  them ;  even  Mr.  Tasker, 

8i 


Dialstone  Lane 

who  was  gliding  in  unobtrusively  with  a  jug  of 
water,  shared  in  his  regards. 

"  When  I  think  of  the  orphans  and  widows,"  he 
said,  bitterly,  "  I " 

He  opened  the  door  suddenly  and,  closing  it  be- 
hind him,  breathed  the  rest  to  Dialstone  Lane.  An 
aged  woman  sitting  in  a  doorway  said,  "  Hush!  " 


82 


CHAPTER    VI 

MISS  DREWITT  sat  for  some  time  in  her 
room  after  the  visitors  had  departed, 
eyeing  with  some  disfavour  the  genuine 
antiques  which  she  owed  to  the  enterprise,  not  to 
say  officiousness,  of  Edward  Tredgold.  That  they 
were  in  excellent  taste  was  undeniable,  but  there  was 
a  flavour  of  age  and  a  suspicion  of  decay  about  them 
which  did  not  make  for  cheerfulness. 

She  rose  at  last,  and  taking  off  her  watch  went 
through  the  nightly  task  of  wondering  where  she 
had  put  the  key  after  using  it  last.  It  was  not  until 
she  had  twice  made  a  fruitless  tour  of  the  room 
with  the  candle  that  she  remembered  that  she  had 
left  it  on  the  mantelpiece  downstairs. 

The  captain  was  still  below,  and  after  a  moment's 
hesitation  she  opened  her  door  and  went  softly  down 
the  steep  winding  stairs. 

The  door  at  the  foot  stood  open,  and  revealed 
the  captain  standing  by  the  table.  There  was  an 
air  of  perplexity  and  anxiety  about  him  such  as  she 
had  never  seen  before,  and  as  she  waited  he  crossed 
to  the  bureau,  which  stood  open,  and  searched  fever- 

83 


Dialstone  Lane 

ishly  among  the  papers  which  littered  it.      Appar- 
ently dissatisfied  with  the  result,   he  moved  it  out 


"He  moved  it  out  bodily  and  looked  behind  and  beneath  it." 

bodily  and  looked  behind  and  beneath  it.  Coming 
to  an  erect  position  again  he  suddenly  became  aware 
of  the  presence  of  his  niece. 

84 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  It's  gone,"  he  said,  in  an  amazed  voice. 

"Gone?"  repeated  Prudence.  "What  has 
gone?  " 

''  The  map,"  said  the  captain,  tumbling  his 
beard.  *'  I  put  it  in  this  end  pigeon-hole  the  other 
night  after  showing  it  and  I  haven't  touched  it 
since;  and  it's  gone." 

'*  But  you  burnt  it !  "  said  Prudence,  with  an  as- 
tonished laugh. 

The  captain  started.  "No;  I  was  going  to," 
he  said,  eyeing  her  in  manifest  confusion, 

"  But  you  said  that  you  had,"  persisted  his  niece. 

"  Yes,"  stammered  the  captain,  "  I  know  I  did, 
but  I  hadn't.  I  was  just  looking  ahead  a  bit,  that 
was  all.    I  went  to  the  bureau  just  now  to  do  it." 

Miss  Drcwitt  eyed  him  with  mild  reproach. 
"  You  even  described  how  you  did  it,"  she  said, 
slowly.  "  You  said  that  Mount  Lonesome  turned 
into  a  volcano.     Wasn't  it  true?  " 

"  Figure  o'  speech,  my  dear,"  said  the  unhappy 
captain;  "  I've  got  a  talent  for  description  that  runs 
away  with  me  at  times." 

His  niece  gazed  at  him  in  perplexity. 

"  You  know  what  Chalk  is,"  said  Captain  Bow- 
ers, appealingly.  "  I  was  going  to  do  it  yesterday, 
onJy  I  forgot  it,  and  he  would  have  gone  down  on 
his  knees  for  another  sight  of  it.  I  don't  like  to 
seem  disobliging  to  friends,  and  it  seemed  to  me  a 

85 


Dialstone  Lane  a 

good  way  out  of  It.     Chalk  is  so  eager — it's  like        I 
refusing  a  child,  and  I  hurt  his  feelings  only  the 
other  day." 

"  Perhaps  you  burnt  it  after  all  and  forgot  it?" 
said  Prudence. 

For  the  first  time  in  her  knowledge  of  him  the 
captain  got  irritable  with  her.  "  I've  not  burnt  it," 
he  said,  sharply.  "Where's  that  Joseph?  He 
must  know  something  about  it  1  " 

He  moved  to  the  foot  of  the  staircase,  but  Miss 
Drewitt  laid  a  detaining  hand  on  his  arm. 

"  Joseph  was  in  the  room  when  you  said  that  you 
had  burnt  it,"  she  exclaimed.  "  You  can't  contra- 
dict yourself  like  that  before  him.  Besides,  I'm  sure 
he  has  had  nothing  to  do  with  it." 

"  Somebody's  got  it,"  grumbled  her  uncle,  pausing. 

He  dropped  into  his  chair  and  looked  at  her  in 
consternation.  "  Good  heavens!  Suppose  they  go 
after  it,"  he  said,  in  a  choking  voice. 

"  Well,  It  won't  be  your  fault,"  said  Prudence. 
"  You  haven't  broken  your  word  Intentionally." 

But  the  captain  paid  no  heed.  He  was  staring 
wild-eyed  Into  vacancy  and  rumpling  his  grey  hair 
until  it  stood  at  all  angles.  His  face  reflected  vary- 
ing emotions. 

"  Somebody  has  got  it,"  he  said  again. 

"  Whoever  it  Is  will  get  no  good  by  It,"  said  Miss 
Drewitt,  who  had  had  a  pious  upbringing. 

86 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  And  If  they've  got  the  map  they'll  go  after  the 
island,"  said  the  captain,  pursuing  his  train  of 
thought. 

"  Perhaps  they  won't  find  It  after  all,"  said  Pru- 
dence. 

"  Perhaps  they  won't,"  said  the  captain,  gruffly. 

He  got  up  and  paced  the  room  restlessly.  Pru- 
dence, watching  him  with  much  sympathy,  had  a 
sudden  Idea. 

"  Edward  Tredgold  was  In  here  alone  this  after- 
noon," she  said,  significantly. 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  captain,  warmly.  "  Whoever 
has  got  It,  It  Isn't  Edward  Tredgold.  I  expect  the 
talk  about  It  has  leaked  out  and  somebody  has 
slipped  in  and  taken  It.  I  ought  to  have  been  more 
careful." 

"  He  started  when  you  said  that  you  had  burnt 
It,"  persisted  Miss  Drewitt,  unwilling  to  give  up  a 
theory  so  much  to  her  liking.  "  You  mark  my  words 
if  his  father  and  Mr.  Chalk  and  that  Mr.  Stobell 
don't  go  away  for  a  holiday  soon.     Good-night." 

She  kissed  him  affectionately  under  the  left  eye — 
a  place  overlooked  by  his  beard — and  went  upstairs 
again.  The  captain  filled  his  pipe  and,  resuming  his 
chair,  sat  In  a  brown  study  until  the  clock  of  the 
neighbouring  church  struck  two. 

It  was  about  the  same  time  that  Mr.  Chalk  fell 
asleep,  thoroughly  worn  out  by  the  events  of  the 


Diaktone  Lane 

evening  and  a  conversation  with  Mr.  Stobell  and 
Mr.  Tredgold,  whom  he  had  met  on  the  way  home 
waiting  for  him. 

The  opinion  of  Mr.  Tredgold  senior,  an  opinion 
in  which  Mr.  Stobell  fully  acquiesced,  was  that  Mr. 
Chalk  had  ruined  everything  by  displaying  all  along 
a  youthful  impetuosity  sadly  out  of  place  in  one  of 
his  years  and  standing.  The  offender's  plea  that  he 
had  thought  it  best  to  strike  while  the  iron  was  hot 
only  exposed  him  to  further  contumely. 

*'  Well,  it's  no  good  talking  about  it,"  said  Mr. 
Tredgold,  impatiently.  "  It's  all  over  now  and 
done  with." 

"  Half  a  million  clean  chucked  away,"  said  Mr. 
Stobell. 

Mr.  Chalk  shook  his  head  and,  finding  that  his 
friends  had  by  no  means  exhausted  the  subject,  sud- 
denly bethought  himself  of  an  engagement  and  left 
them. 

Miss  Vickers,  who  heard  the  news  from  Mr. 
Joseph  Tasker,  received  it  with  an  amount  of  amaze- 
ment highly  gratifying  to  his  powers  as  a  narrator. 
Her  strongly  expressed  opinion  afterwards  that  he 
had  misunderstood  what  he  had  heard  was  not  so 
agreeable. 

**  I  suppose  I  can  believe  my  own  ears?  "  he  said, 
In  an  injured  voice. 

'*  He  must  have  been  making  fun  of  them  all," 
88 


Dialstone  Lane 

said  Selina.  "  He  couldn't  have  burnt  k — he 
couldn't" 

"  Why  not?  "  inquired  the  other,  surprised  at  her 
vehemence. 

Miss  Vickers  hesitated.  "  Because  it  would  be 
such  a  silly  thing  to  do,"  she  said,  at  last.  "  Now, 
tell  me  what  you  heard  all  over  again — slow." 

Mr.  Tasker  complied. 

"  I  can't  make  head  or  tail  of  it,"  said  Miss  Vick- 
ers when  he  had  finished. 

"  Seems  simple  enough  to  me,"  said  Joseph,  star- 
ing at  her. 

"  All  things  seem  simple  when  you  don't  know 
them,"  said  Miss  Vickers,  vaguely. 

She  walked  home  in  a  thoughtful  mood,  and  for 
A  day  or  two  went  about  the  house  with  an  air  of 
preoccupation  which  was  a  source  of  much  specula- 
tion to  the  family.  George  Vickers,  aged  six,  was 
driven  to  the  verge  of  madness  by  being  washed 
three  times  in  succession  one  morning;  a  gag  of  well- 
soaped  flannel  being  applied  with  mechanical  regu- 
larity each  time  that  he  strove  to  point  out  the  un- 
washed condition  of  Martha  and  Charles.  His 
turn  came  when  the  exultant  couple,  charged  with 
having  made  themselves  dirty  in  the  shortest  time 
on  record,  were  deprived  of  their  breakfast.  Mr. 
Vickers,  having  committed  one  or  two  minor  mis- 
demeanours unchallenged,  attributed  his  daughter's 

89 


Dialstone  Lane 

condition  to  love,  and  began  to  speak  of  that  pas- 
sion with  more  indulgence  than  he  had  done  since  his 
marriage. 

Miss  Viclcers's  abstraction,  however,  lasted  but 
three  days.  On  the  fourth  she  was  herself  again, 
and,  having  spent  the  day  in  hard  work,  dressed 
herself  with  unusual  care  in  the  evening  and  went 
out. 

The  evening  was  fine  and  the  air,  to  one  who  had 
been  at  work  indoors  all  day,  delightful.  Miss 
Vickers  walked  briskly  along  with  the  smile  of  a 
person  who  has  solved  a  difficult  problem,  but  as 
she  drew  near  the  Horse  and  Groom,  a  hostelry  of 
retiring  habits,  standing  well  back  from  the  road,  the 
smile  faded  and  she  stood  face  to  face  with  the  stern 
realities  of  life. 

A  few  yards  from  the  side-door  Mr.  Vickers  stood 
smoking  a  contemplative  pipe;  the  side-door  itself 
had  just  closed  behind  a  tall  man  in  corduroys,  who 
bore  in  his  right  hand  a  large  mug  made  of  pewter. 

"  Ho !  "  said  Selina,  "  so  this  is  how  you  go  on 
the  moment  my  back  is  turned,  is  it?  " 

"What  d'ye  mean?"  demanded  Mr.  Vickers, 
blustering. 

"  You  know  what  I  mean,"  said  his  daughter, 
*'  standing  outside  and  sending  Bill  Russell  in  to  get 
you  beer.     That's  what  I  mean." 

Mr.  Vickers  turned,  and  with  a  little  dramatic 
90 


Dialstone  Lane 


start  Intimated  that  he  had  caught  sight  of  Mr. 
Russell  for  the  first  time  that  evening.     Mr.  Russell 


"  She  stood  face  to  face  with  the  stern  realities 
of  life." 

himself  sought  to  Improve  the 
occasion. 

"  Wish  I  may  die "  he 

began,  solemnly. 

"  Like  a  policeman,"  con- 
tinued Sellna,  regarding  her 
father  indignantly. 

"  I    wish    I    was    a    pollce- 
E>   man,"  muttered  Mr.  Vickers. 
"  I'd  show  some  of  you." 
"What  have  you  got  to  say  for  yourself?"  de- 
manded Miss  Vickers,  shortly. 

91 


Dialstone  Lane 

'*  Nothing,"  said  the  culprit.  "  I  s'pose  I  can 
stand  where  I  like?    There's  no  law  agin  it." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  didn't  send  Bill  in 
to  get  you  some  beer?  "  said  his  daughter. 

"  Certainly  not,"  said  Mr.  Vickers,  with  great 
indignation.     "  I  shouldn't  think  of  such  a  thing." 

"  I  shouldn't  get  it  if  'e  did,"  said  Mr.  Russell, 
virtuously. 

"Whose  beer  is  it,  then?"  said  Selina. 

"Why,  Bill's,  I  s'pose;  how  should  I  know?" 
replied  Mr.  Vickers. 

"  Yes,  it's  mine,"  said  Mr.  Russell. 

"  Drink  it  up,  then,"  commanded  Miss  Vickers, 
sternly. 

Both  men  started,  and  then  Mr.  Russell,  bestow- 
ing a  look  of  infinite  compassion  upon  his  unfortu- 
nate friend,  raised  the  mug  obediently  to  his  sensi- 
tive lips.  Always  a  kind-hearted  man,  he  was  glad 
when  the  gradual  tilting  necessary  to  the  occasion 
had  blotted  out  the  picture  of  indignation  which 
raged  helplessly  before  him. 

"  I  'ope  you're  satisfied  now,"  he  said  severely  to 
the  girl,  as  he  turned  a  triumphant  glance  on  Mr. 
Vickers,  which  that  gentleman  met  with  a  cold  stare. 

Miss  Vickers  paid  no  heed.  "  You  get  ofi^  home," 
she  said  to  her  father;  "  I'll  see  to  the  Horse  and 
Groom  to-morrow." 

Mr.  Vickers  muttered  something  under  his  breath, 
92 


Dialstone  Lane 

and  then,  with  a  forlorn  attempt  at  dignity,  de- 
parted. 

Miss  Vickers,  Ignoring  the  remarks  of  one  or  two 
fathers  of  families  who  were  vokmteering  informa- 
tion as  to  what  they  would  do  if  she  were  their 
daughter,  watched  him  out  of  sight  and  resumed  her 
walk.  She  turned  once  or  twice  as  though  to  make 
sure  that  she  was  not  observed,  and  then,  making 
her  v/ay  in  the  direction  of  Mr.  Chalk's  house, 
approached  it  cautiously  from  the  back. 

Mr.  Chalk,  who  was  in  the  garden  engaged  In 
the  useful  and  healthful  occupation  of  digging,  be- 
came aware  after  a  time  of  a  low  whistle  proceed- 
ing from  the  farther  end.  He  glanced  almost  me- 
chanically in  that  direction,  and  then  nearly  dropped 
his  spade  as  he  made  out  a  girl's  head  surmounted 
by  a  large  hat.  The  light  was  getting  dim,  but  the 
hat  had  an  odd  appearance  of  familiarity^  A 
stealthy  glance  in  the  other  direction  showed  him 
the  figure  of  Mrs.  Chalk  standing  to  attention  just 
inside  the  open  French  windows  of  the  drawing- 
room. 

The  whistle  came  again,  slightly  increased  in  vol- 
ume. Mr.  Chalk,  pausing  merely  to  wipe  his  brow, 
which  had  suddenly  become  very  damp,  bent  to  his 
work  with  renewed  vigour.  It  is  an  old  idea  that 
whistling  aids  manual  labour;  Mr.  Chalk,  moisten- 
ing his  lips  with  a  tongue  grown  all  too  feverish  for 

93 


Dialstone  Lane 


the  task,  began  to  whistle  a  popular  air  with  much 
liveliness. 

The  idea  was  ingenious,   but  hopeless   from  the 
start.     The  whistle  at  the  end  of  the  garden  became 


"  He  made  out  a  girl's  head  surmounted  by  a  large  hat." 

piercing  in  its  endeavour  to  attract  attention,  and, 
what  was  worse,  developed  an  odd  note  of  entreaty. 
Mr.  Chalk,  pale  with  apprehension,  could  bear  no 
more. 

"  Well,  I  think  I've  done  enough  for  one  night," 
94 


Dialstone  Lane 

he  observed,  cheerfully  and  loudly,  as  he  thrust  his 
spade  into  the  ground  and  took  his  coat  from  a 
neighbouring  bush. 

He  turned  to  go  indoors  and,  knowing  his  wife's 
objection  to  dirty  boots,  made  for  the  door  near  the 
kitchen.  As  he  passed  the  drawing-room  window, 
however,  a  low  but  imperative  voice  pronounced  his 
name. 

"  Yes,  my  dear,"  said  Mr.  Chalk. 
"  There's  a  friend  of  yours  whistling  for  you," 
said  his  wife,  with  forced  calmness. 

"Whistling?"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  with  as  much 
surprise  as  a  man  could  assume  In  face  of  the  noise 
from  the  bottom  of  the  garden. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  you  can't  hear  it?  "  de- 
manded his  wife,  in  a  choking  voice. 

Mr.  Chalk  lost  his  presence  of  mind.     "  I  thought 
it  was  a  bird,"  he  said,  assuming  a  listening  attitude. 
"  Birdf "    gasped    the    indignant    Mrs.     Chalk. 
"  Look  down  there.     Do  you  call  that  a  bird?  " 

Mr.  Chalk  looked  and  uttered  a  little  cry  of  as- 
tonishment. 

"  I  suppose  she  wants  to  see  one  of  the  servants," 
he  said,  at  last;  "but  why  doesn't  she  go  round  to 
the  side  entrance?  I  shall  have  to  speak  to  them 
about  it." 

Mrs.  Chalk  drew  herself  up  and  eyed  him  with 
superb  disdain. 

95 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Go  down  and  speak  to  her,"  she  commanded. 

**  Certainly  not,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  braving  her, 
although  his  voice  trembled. 

"Why  not?" 

"  Because  if  I  did  you  would  ask  me  what  she 
said,  and  when  I  told  you  you  wouldn't  believe  me," 
said  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  You — you  decline  to  go  down?  "  said  his  wife, 
in  a  voice  shaking  with  emotion. 

"  I  do,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  firmly.  "  Why  don't 
you  go  yourself?  " 

Mrs.  Chalk  eyed  him  for  a  moment  in  scornful 
silence,  and  then  stepped  to  the  window  and  sailed 
majestically  down  the  garden.  Mr.  Chalk  watched 
her,  with  parted  lips,  and  then  he  began  to  breathe 
more  freely  as  the  whistle  ceased  and  the  head  sud- 
denly disappeared.  Still  a  little  nervous,  he  watched 
his  wife  to  the  end  of  the  garden  and  saw  her  crane 
her  head  over  the  fence.  By  the  time  she  returned 
he  was  sitting  in  an  attitude  of  careless  ease,  with 
his  back  to  the  window. 

"Well?"  he  said,  with  assurance. 

Mrs.  Chalk  stood  stock-still,  and  the  intensity  of 
her  gaze  drew  Mr.  Chalk's  eyes  to  her  face  despite 
his  will.  For  a  few  seconds  she  gazed  at  him  in 
silence,  and  then,  drawing  her  skirts  together,  swept 
violently  out  of  the  room. 


96 


CHAPTER    VII 

MR.  CHALK  made  but  a  poor  breakfast 
next  morning,  the  effort  to  display  a 
feeling  of  proper  sympathy  with  Mrs. 
Chalk,  who  was  presiding  in  gloomy  silence  at  the 
coffee-pot,  and  at  the  same  time  to  maintain  an  air 
of  cheerful  innocence  as  to  the  cause  of  her  behav- 
iour, being  almost  beyond  his  powers.  He  chipped 
his  egg  with  a  painstaking  attempt  to  avoid  noise, 
and  swallowed  each  mouthful  with  a  feeble  pre- 
tence of  not  knowing  that  she  was  watching  him  as 
he  ate.  Her  glance  conveyed  a  scornful  reproach 
that  he  could  eat  at  all  in  such  circumstances,  and, 
that  there  might  be  no  mistake  as  to  her  own  feel- 
ings, she  ostentatiously  pushed  the  toast-rack  and 
egg-stand  away  from  her, 

"  You — you're  not  eating,  my  dear,"  said  Mr. 
Chalk. 

"  If  I  ate  anything  It  would  choke  me,"  was  the 
reply. 

Mr.  Chalk  affected  surprise,  but  his  voice  quav- 
ered. To  cover  his  discomfiture  he  passed  his  cup 
up  for  more  coffee,  shivering  despite  himself,  as  he 
noticed  the   elaborate  care  which   Mrs.   Chalk  dis- 

97 


Dialstone  Lane 

played  in  rinsing  out  the  cup  and  filling  it  to  the 
very  brim.  Beyond  raising  her  eyes  to  the  ceiling 
when  he  took  another  piece  of  toast,  she  made  no 
sign. 

"  You're    not    looking    yourself,"    ventured    Mr. 
Chalk,  after  a  time. 


"He  passed  his  cup  up  for  more  coffee." 

His  wife  received  the  information  in  scornful 
silence. 

"  I've  noticed  it  for  some  time,"  said  the  thought- 
ful husband,  making  another  effort.  "  It's  worried 
me." 

"  I'm  not  getting  younger,  I  know,"  assented  Mrs. 
Chalk.  '  But  if  you  think  that  that's  any  excuse 
for  your  goings  on,  you're  mistaken." 

98 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Chalk  murmured  something  to  the  effect  that 
he  did  not  understand  her. 

"  You  understand  well  enough,"  was  the  reply. 
"  When  that  girl  came  whistling  over  the  fence  last 
night  you  said  you  thought  it  was  a  bird." 

"  I  did,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  hastily  taking  a  spoon- 
ful of  egg. 

Mrs.  Chalk's  face  flamed.  "  What  sort  of 
bird?"  she  demanded. 

"  Sing';n'  bird,"  replied  her  husband,  with  nervous 
glibness. 

Mrs.  Chalk  left  the  room. 

Mr.  Chalk  finished  his  breakfast  with  an  effort, 
and  then,  moving  to  the  window,  lit  his  pipe  and 
sat  for  some  time  in  moody  thought.  A  little  natu- 
ral curiosity  as  to  the  identity  of  the  fair  whistler 
would,  howev^er,  not  be  denied,  and  the  names  of 
Binchester's  fairest  daughters  passed  in  review  be- 
fore him.  Almost  unconsciously  he  got  up  and  sur- 
veyed himself  in  the  glass. 

"  There's  no  accounting  for  tastes,"  he  said  to 
himself,  in  modest  explanation. 

His  mind  still  dwelt  on  the  subject  as  he  stood 
in  the  hall  later  on  in  the  morning,  brushing  his  hat, 
preparatory  to  taking  his  usual  walk.  Mrs.  Chalk, 
upstairs  listening,  thought  that  he  would  never  have 
finished,  and  drew  her  own  conclusions. 

With  the  air  of  a  man  whose  time  hangs  upon 

99 


Dialstone  Lane 

his  hands  Mr.  Chalk  sauntered  slowly  through  the 
narrow  by-ways  of  Binchester.  He  read  all  the 
notices  pasted  on  the  door  of  the  Town  Hall  and 
bought  some  stamps  at  the  post-office,  but  the  morn- 
ing dragged  slowly,  and  he  bent  his  steps  at  last  in 
the  direction  of  Tredgold's  office,  in  the  faint  hope 
of  a  little  conversation. 

To  his  surprise,  Mr.  Tredgold  senior  was  in  an 
unusually  affable  mood.  He  pushed  his  papers  aside 
at  once,  and,  motioning  his  visitor  to  a  chair,  greeted 
him  with  much  heartiness. 

*'  Just  the  man  I  wanted  to  see,"  he  said,  cheer- 
fully. "  I  want  you  to  come  round  to  my  place  at 
eight  o'clock  to-night.  I've  just  seen  Stobell,  and 
he's  coming  too." 

"  I  will  if  I  can,"  said  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  You  must  come,"  said  the  other,  seriously. 
*'  It's  business." 

"  Business !  "  said  Mr.  Chalk.    "  I  don't  see " 

"  You  will  to-night,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  with  a 
mysterious  smile.  *'  I've  sent  Edward  off  to  town 
on  business,  and  we  sha'n't  be  interrupted.  Good- 
bye.     I'm  busy." 

He  shook  hands  with  his  visitor  and  led  him  to 
the  door;  Chalk,  after  a  vain  attempt  to  obtain 
particulars,  walked  slowly  home. 

Despite  his  curiosity  it  was  nearly  half-past  eight 
when  he  arrived  at  Mr.  Tredgold's  that  evening, 

lOO 


Dialstone  Lane 

and  was  admitted  by  his  host.     The  latter,  with  a 
somewhat  trite  remark  about  the  virtues  of  punc- 


*•  *  This  is  a  new  client  of  mine,*  said  Tredgold." 

tuality,  led  the  way  upstairs  and  threw  open  the 
door  of  his  study. 

"  Here  he  is,"  he  announced. 

A  slender  figure  sitting  bolt  upright  in  a  large 
grandfather-chair  turned  at  their  entrance,  and  re- 
vealed to  the  astonished  Mr.  Chalk  the  expressive 
features  of  Miss  Selina  Vickers;  facing  her  at  the 
opposite  side  of  the  room  Mr.  Stobell,  palpably  ruf- 
fled, eyed  her  balefuUy. 

lOI 


Dialstone  Lane 

*'  This  is  a  new  client  of  mine,"  said  Tredgold, 
indicating  Miss  Vickers. 

Mr.  Chalk  said  "  Good  evening." 

"  I  tried  to  get  a  word  with  you  last  night,"  said 
Miss  Vickers.  "  I  was  down  at  the  bottom  of  your 
garden  whistling  for  over  ten  minutes  as  hard  as  I 
could  whistle.     I  wonder  you  didn't  hear  me." 

''''Hear  you!  "  cried  Mr.  Chalk,  guiltily  conscious 
of  a  feeling  of  disappointment  quite  beyond  his  con- 
trol. "  What  do  you  mean  by  coming  and  whistling 
for  me,  eh?    What  do  you  mean  by  it?  " 

"  I  wanted  to  see  you  private,"  said  Miss  Vick- 
ers, calmly,  "  but  it's  just  as  well.  I  went  and  saw 
Mr.  Tredgold  this  morning  instead." 

"  On  a  matter  of  business,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold, 
looking  at  her,  "  She  came  to  me,  as  one  of  the 
ordinary  public,  about  some — ha — land  she's  inter- 
ested In." 

"  An  island,"  corroborated  Miss  Vickers. 

Mr.  Chalk  took  a  chair  and  looked  round  in 
amazement.     "What,  another?"  he  said,  faintly. 

Mr.  Tredgold  coughed,  "  My  client  is  not  a  rich 
woman,"  he  began. 

"  Chalk  knows  that,"  Interrupted  Mr.  Stobell. 
"  The  airs  and  graces  that  girl  will  give  herself  if 
you  go  on  like  that " 

"  But  she  has  some  property  there  which  she  Is 
anxious  to  obtain,"  continued  Mr.  Tredgold,  with  a 

1 02 


Dialstone  Lane 

warning  glance  at  the  speaker.  "  That  being 
so " 

"  Make  him  wish  he  may  die  first,"  interposed 
Miss  Vickers,  briskly. 

"  Yes,  yes;  that's  all  right,"  said  Tredgold,  meet- 
ing Mr.  Chalk's  startled  gaze. 

"  It  will  be  when  he's  done  it,"  retorted  the  deter- 
mined Miss  Vickers, 

"  It's  a  secret,"  explained  Mr.  Tredgold,  address- 
ing his  staring  friend.  "  And  you  must  swear  to 
keep  it  if  it's  told  you.  That's  what  she  means.  I've 
had  to  and  so  has  Stobell." 

A  fierce  grunt  from  Mr.  Stobell,  who  was  still 
suffering  from  the  remembrance  of  an  indignity 
against  which  he  had  protested  in  vain,  came  as  con- 
firmation. Then  the  marvelling  Mr.  Chalk  rose, 
and  instructed  by  Miss  Vickers  took  an  oath,  the 
efficacy  of  which  consisted  in  a  fervent  hope  that  he 
might  die  if  he  broke  it. 

"But  what's  it  all  about?"  he  inquired,  plain- 
'  tively. 

Mr.  Tredgold  conferred  with  Miss  Vickers,  and 
that  lady,  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  drew  a  folded 
paper  from  her  bosom  and  beckoned  to  Mr.  Chalk. 
With  a  cry  of  amazement  he  recognised  the  iden- 
tical map  of  Bowers's  Island,  which  he  had  last 
seen  in  the  hands  of  its  namesake.  It  was  impos- 
sible  to  mistake   it,    although   an   attempt   to   take 

103 


Dialstone   Lane 

It  in  his  hand  was  promptly  frustrated  by  the 
owner. 

"  But  Captain  Bowers  said  that  he  had  burnt  it," 
he  cried. 

Mr.  Tredgold  eyed  him  coldly.  "  Burnt  what?  " 
he  inquired. 

"  The  map,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Just  so,"  said  Tredgold.  "  You  told  me  he  had 
burnt  a  map." 

*'  Is  this  another,  then?  "  inquired  Mr.  Chalk. 

'*  P'r'aps,"  said  Miss  Vickers,  briefly. 

"  As  the  captain  said  he  had  burnt  his,  this  must 
be  another,"  said  Tredgold. 

"  Didn't  he  burn  it,  then?  "  inquired  Mr.  Chalk. 

'*  I  should  be  sorry  to  disbelieve  Captain  Bowers," 
said  Tredgold. 

"  Couldn't  be  done,"  said  the  brooding  Stobell, 
"  not  if  you  tried." 

Mr.  Chalk  sat  still  and  eyed  them  in  perplexity. 

*'  There  is  no  doubt  that  this  map  refers  to  the 
same  treasure  as  the  one  Captain  Bowers  had,"  said 
Tredgold,  with  the  air  of  one  making  a  generous 
admission.  "  My  client  has  not  volunteered  any 
statement  as  to  how  it  came  into  her  possession " 

"  And  she's  not  going  to,"  put  in  Miss  Vickers, 
dispassionately. 

"  It  is  enough  for  me  that  we  have  got  it,"  re- 
sumed Mr.  Tredgold.     "  Now,  we  want  you  to  join 

104 


Dialstone  Lane 

us  in  fitting  out  a  ship  and  recovering  the  treasure. 
Equal  expenses;  equal  shares." 

"What  about  Captain  Bowers?"  inquired  Mr. 
Chalk. 

"  He  is  to  have  an  equal  share  without  any  of 
the  expense,"  said  Tredgold.  "  You  know  he  gave 
us  permission  to  find  it  if  we  could,  so  we  are  not 
injuring  anybody." 

"  He  told  us  to  go  and  find  it,  if  you  remember," 
said  Stobell,  "  and  we're  going  to." 

"  He'll  have  a  fortune  handed  to  him  without 
any  trouble  or  being  responsible  in  any  way,"  said 
Tredgold,  impressively.  "  I  should  like  to  think 
there  was  somebody  working  to  put  a  fortune  like 
that  into  my  lap.    We  shall  have  a  fifth  each." 

"  That'll  be  five — thousand — pounds  for  you, 
Selina/'  said  Mr.  Stobell,  with  a  would-be  benevo- 
lent smile. 

Miss  Vickers  turned  a  composed  little  face  upon 
him  and  languidly  closed  one  eye. 

"  I  had  two  prizes  for  arithmetic  when  I  was  at 
school,"  she  remarked;  "  and  don't  you  call  me 
Selina,  unless  you  want  to  be  called  Bobbie." 

A  sharp  exclamation  from  Mr.  Tredgold  stopped 
all  but  the  first  three  words  of  Mr.  Stobell's  retort, 
but  he  said  the  rest  under  his  breath  with  consider- 
able relish. 

"  Don't  mind  him,"  said  Miss  Vickers.  "  I'm 
105 


Dialstone   Lane 

half  sorry  I  let  him  join,  now.  A  man  that  used  to 
work  for  him  once  told  me  that  he  was  only  half  a 
gentleman,  but  he'd  never  seen  that  half." 

Mr.  Stobell,  afraid  to  trust  himself,  got  up  and 
leaned  out  of  the  window. 

"  Well,  we're  all  agreed,  then,"  said  Tredgold, 
looking  round. 

"  Half  a  second,"  said  Miss  Vickers.  *'  Before  I 
part  with  this  map  you've  all  got  to  sign  a  paper 
promising  me  my  proper  share,  and  to  give  me 
twenty  pounds  down." 

Mr.  Tredgold  hesitated  and  looked  serious.  Mr. 
Chalk,  somewhat  dazed  by  the  events  of  the  even- 
ing, blinked  at  him  solemnly.  Mr.  Stobell  withdrew 
his  head  from  the  window  and  spoke. 

"  Twenty — pounds!  "  he  growled. 

*'  Twenty  pounds,"  repeated  Miss  Vickers,  "  or 
four  hundred  shillings,  if  you  like  it  better.  If  you 
wait  a  moment  I'll  make  it  pennies." 

She  leaned  back  in  her  chair  and,  screwing  her 
eyes  tight,  began  the  calculation.  "  Twelve  noughts 
are  nought,"  she  said,  in  a  gabbling  whisper; 
"  twelve  noughts  are  nought,  twelve  fours  are 
forty " 

"  All  right,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  who  had  been 
regarding  this  performance  with  astonisiied  disap- 
proval. '*  You  shall  have  the  twenty  pounds,  but 
there  is  no  necessity  for  us  to  sign  any  paper." 

io6 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  No,  there's  no  necessity,"  said  Miss  Vickers, 
opening  her  small,  sharp  eyes  again,  "  only,  If  you 
don't  do  It,  I'll  find  somebody  that  will." 

Mr.  Tredgold  argued  with  her,  but  in  vain;  Mr. 
Chalk,  taking  up  the  argument  and  expanding  It, 
fared  no  better;  and  Mr.  Stobell,  opening  his  mouth 
to  contribute  his  mite,  was  quelled  before  he  could 
get  a  word  out. 

"Them's  my  terms,"  said  Miss  Vickers;  "take 
'em  or  leave  'em,  just  as  you  please.  I  give  you  five 
minutes  by  the  clock  to  make  up  your  minds;  Mr. 
Stobell  can  have  six,  because  thinking  takes  him 
longer.  And  If  you  agree  to  do  what's  right — and 
I'm  letting  you  off  easy — Mr.  Tredgold  Is  to  keep 
the  map  and  never  to  let  It  go  out  of  his  sight  for  a 
single  Instant." 

She  put  her  head  round  the  side  of  the  chair  to 
make  a  note  of  the  time,  and  then,  sitting  upright 
with  her  arms  folded,  awaited  their  decision.  Be- 
fore the  time  was  up  the  terms  were  accepted,  and 
Mr.  Tredgold,  drawing  his  chair  to  the  table,  pre- 
pared to  draw  up  the  required  agreement. 

He  composed  several,  but  none  which  seemed  to 
give  general  satisfaction.  At  the  seventh  attempt, 
however,  he  produced  an  agreement  which,  alluding 
In  vague  terms  to  a  treasure  quest  in  the  Southern 
Seas  on  the  strength  of  a  map  provided  by  Miss 
Vickers,  promised  one-fifth  of  the  sum  recovered  to 

107 


Dialstone  Lane 

that  lady,  and  was  considered  to  meet  the  exigencies 
of  the  case.  Miss  Vickers  herself,  without  being 
enthusiastic,  said  that  she  supposed  it  would  have 
to  do. 

Another  copy  was  avoided,  but  only  with  great 
difficulty,   owing  to  her  criticism   of   Mr.   Stobell's 


"  Mr.  Tredgold  prepared  to  draw  up  the  required  agreement." 

signature.  It  took  the  united  and  verbose  efforts 
of  Messrs.  Chalk  and  Tredgold  to  assure  her  that 
it  was  in  his  usual  style,  and  rather  a  good  signature 
for  him  than  otherwise.  Miss  Vickers,  viewing  it 
with  her  head  on  one  side,  asked  whether  he  couldn't 
make  his  mark  instead;  a  question  which  Mr.  Sto- 

io8 


Dialstone  Lane 

bell,  at  the  pressing  Instance  of  his  friends,  left 
unanswered.  Then  Tredgold  left  the  room  to  pay  a 
visit  to  his  safe,  and,  the  other  two  gentlemen  turn- 
ing out  their  pockets,  the  required  sum  was  made 
up,  and  with  the  agreement  handed  to  Miss  Vickers 
in  exchange  for  the  map. 

She  bade  them  good-night,  and  then,  opening  the 
door,  paused  with  her  hand  on  the  knob  and  stood 
irresolute. 

"  I  hope  I've  done  right,"  she  said,  somewhat 
nervously.  "  It  was  no  good  to  anybody  laying  idle 
and  being  wasted.     I  haven't  stolen  anything." 

"  No,  no,"  said  Tredgold,  hastily. 

"  It  seems  ridiculous  for  all  that  money  to  be 
wasted,"  continued  Miss  Vickers,  musingly.  "  It 
doesn't  belong  to  anybody,  so  nobody  can  be  hurt 
by  our  taking  it,  and  we  can  do  a  lot  of  good  with 
It.  if  we  like.  I  shall  give  some  of  mine  away  to  the 
poor.     We  all  will.     I'll  have  it  put  in  this  paper." 

She  fumbled  in  her  bodice  for  the  document,  and 
walked  towards  them. 

"  We  can't  alter  it  now,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold, 
decidedly. 

"We'll  do  what's  right,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  reas- 
suringly. 

Miss  Vickers  smiled  at  him.  "  Yes,  I  know  you 
will,"  she  said,  graciously,  "  and  I  think  Mr.  Tred- 
gold will,  but " 

109 


Dialstone  Lane 

'*  You're  leaving  that  door  open,"  said  Mr.  Sto- 
bell,  coldly,  "  and  the  draught's  blowing  my  head 
off,  pretty  near." 

Miss  Vickers  eyed  him  scornfully,  but  in  the  ab- 
sence of  a  crushing  reply  disdained  one  at  all.  She 
contented  herself  instead  by  going  outside  and  clos- 
ing the  door  after  her  with  a  sharpness  which 
stirred  every  hair  on  his  head. 

"  It's  a  most  extraordinary  thing,"  said  Mr. 
Chalk,  as  the  three  bent  exultingly  over  the  map.  "  I 
could  ha'  sworn  to  this  map  in  a  court  of  justice." 

"  Don't  you  worry  your  head  about  it,"  advised 
Mr.  Stobell. 

"  You've  got  your  way  at  last,"  said  Tredgold, 
with  some  severity.  "  We're  going  for  a  cruise  with 
you,  and  here  you  are  raising  objections." 

"  Not  objections,"  remonstrated  the  other;  "  and, 
talking  about  the  voyage,  what  about  Mrs.  Chalk? 
She'll  want  to  come." 

"  So  will  Mrs.  Stobell,"  said  that  lady's  pro- 
prietor, "  but  she  won't." 

"  She  mustn't  hear  of  it  till  the  last  moment," 
said  Tredgold,  dictatorially;  "  the  quieter  we  keep 
the  whole  thing  the  better.  You're  not  to  divulge 
a  word  of  the  cruise  to  anybody.  When  it  does  leak 
out  it  must  be  understood  we  are  just  going  for  a  lit- 
tle pleasure  jaunt.  Mind,  you've  sworn  to  keep  the 
whole  affair  secret." 

no 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Chalk  screwed  up  his  features  in  anxious  per- 
plexity, but  made  no  comment. 

"  The  weather's  fine,"  continued  Tredgold,  "  and 
there's  nothing  gained  by  delay.  On  Wednesday 
we'll  take  the  train  to  Biddlecombe  and  have  a  look 
round.  My  idea  is  to  buy  a  small,  stout  sailing-craft 
second-hand;  ship  a  crew  ostensibly  for  a  pleasure 
trip,  and  sail  as  soon  as  possible." 

Mr.  Chalk's  face  brightened.  "  And  we'll  take 
some  beads,  and  guns,  and  looking-glasses,  and  trade 
with  the  natives  in  the  different  islands  we  pass," 
he  said,  cheerfully.  "  We  may  as  well  see  some- 
thing of  the  world  while  we're  about  it." 

Mr.  Tredgold  smiled  indulgently  and  said  they 
would  see.  Messrs.  Stobell  and  Chalk,  after  a  final 
glance  at  the  map  and  a  final  perusal  of  the  instruc- 
tions at  the  back,  took  their  departure. 

"  It's  like  a  dream,"  said  the  latter  gentleman,  as 
they  walked  down  the  High  Street. 

"  That  Vickers  girl  ud  like  more  dreams  o'  the 
same  sort,"  said  Mr.  Stobell,  as  he  thrust  his  hand 
in  his  empty  pocket. 

"  It's  all  very  well  for  you,"  continued  Mr.  Chalk, 
uneasily.  "  But  my  wife  is  sure  to  insist  upon 
coming." 

Mr.  Stobell  sniffed.  "  I've  got  a  v/ife  too,"  he 
remarked. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  in  a  burst  of  unwonted 
III 


Dialstone  Lane 

frankness,  "  but  it  ain't  quite  the  same  thing.  IVc 
got  a  wife  and  Mrs.  Stobell  has  got  a  husband — 
that's  the  difference." 

Mr.  Stobell  pondered  this  remark  for  the  rest  of 
the  way  home.  He  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
events  of  the  evening  had  made  Mr.  Chalk  a  little 
light-headed. 


112 


CHAPTER    VIII 

UNTIL  he  stood  on  the  platform  on  Wednes- 
day morning  with  his  brother  adventurers 
Mr.  Chalk  passed  the  time  in  a  state  of 
nervous  excitement,  which  only  tended  to  confirm 
his  wife  in  her  suspicions  of  his  behaviour.  With- 
out any  preliminaries  he  would  burst  out  suddenly 
into  snatches  of  sea-songs,  the  "  Bay  of  Biscay  " 
being  an  especial  favourite,  until  Mrs.  Chalk  thought 
fit  to  observe  that,  "  if  the  thunder  did  roar  like 
that  she  should  not  be  afraid  of  it."  Ever  sensitive 
to  a  fault,  Mr.  Chalk  fell  back  upon  "  Tom  Bowl- 
ing," which  he  thought  free  from  openings  of  that 
sort,  until  Mrs.  Chalk,  after  commenting  upon  the 
inability  of  the  late  Mr.  Bowling  to  hear  the  tem- 
pest's howling,  indulged  in  idle  speculations  as  to 
what  he  would  have  thought  of  Mr.  Chalk's.  Tred- 
gold  and  Stobell  bought  papers  on  the  station,  but 
Mr.  Chalk  was  in  too  exalted  a  mood  for  reading. 
The  bustle  and  life  as  the  train  became  due  were 
admirably  attuned  to  his  feelings,  and  when  it  drew 
up  and  they  embarked,  to  the  clatter  of  milk-cans 

113 


Dialstone   Lane 

and  the  rumbling  of  trolleys,  he  was  beaming  with 
satisfaction. 

"  I  feel  that  I  can  smell  the  sea  already,"  he  re- 
marked. 

Mr.  Stobell  put  down  his  paper  and  sniffed;  then 
he  resumed  it  again  and,  meeting  Mr.  Tredgold's 
eye  over  the  top  of  it,  sniffed  more  loudly  than 
before. 

"  Have  you  told  Edward  that  you  are  going  to 
sea?"  inquired  Mr.  Chalk,  leaning  over  to  Tred- 
gold. 

"  Certainly  not,"  was  the  reply;  "  I  don't  want 
anybody  to  know  till  the  last  possible  moment.  You 
haven't  given  your  wife  any  hint  as  to  why  you  are 
going  to  Biddlecombe  to-day,  have  you?  " 

Mr.  Chalk  shook  his  head.  "  I  told  her  that 
you  had  got  business  there,  and  that  I  was  going 
with  you  just  for  the  outing,"  he  said.  "  What  she'll 
say  when  she  finds  out " 

His  imagination  failed  him  and,  a  prey  to  fore- 
bodings, he  tried  to  divert  his  mind  by  looking  out 
of  window.  His  countenance  cleared  as  they  neared 
Biddlecombe,  and,  the  line  running  for  some  dis- 
tance by  the  side  of  the  river,  he  amused  himself  by 
gazing  at  various  small  craft  left  high  and  dry  by 
the  tide. 

A  short  walk  from  the  station  brought  them  to 
the  mouth  of  the  river  which  constitutes  the  harbour 

114 


Dialstone  Lane 

of  Biddlecombe.  For  a  small  port  there  was  a 
goodly  array  of  shipping,  and  Mr.  Chalk's  pulse 
beat  faster  as  his  gaze  wandered  impartially  from  a 
stately  barque  in  all  the  pride  of  fresh  paint  to 
dingy,  sea-worn  ketches  and  tiny  yachts. 

Uncertain  how  to  commence  operations,  they 
walked  thoughtfully  up  and  down  the  quay.  If  any 
of  the  craft  were  for  sale  there  was  nothing  to  an- 
nounce the  fact,  and  the  various  suggestions  which 
Mr.  Chalk  threw  off  from  time  to  time  as  to  the 
course  they  should  pursue  were  hardly  noticed. 

"  One  o'clock,"  said  Mr.  Stobell,  extracting  a 
huge  silver  timepiece  from  his  pocket,  after  a  couple 
of  wasted  hours. 

"  Let's  have  something  to  eat  before  we  do  any 
more,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold.  "  After  that  we'll  ferry 
over  and  look  at  the  other  side." 

They  made  their  way  to  the  "  King  of  Hanover," 
an  old  inn,  perched  on  the  side  of  the  harbour,  and, 
mounting  the  stairs,  entered  the  coffee-room,  where 
Mr.  Stobell,  after  hesitating  for  some  time  between 
the  rival  claims  of  roast  beef  and  grilled  chops, 
solved  the  difficulty  by  ordering  both. 

The  only  other  occupant  of  the  room,  a  short, 
wiry  man,  with  a  close-shaven,  hard-bitten  face,  sat 
smoking,  with  a  glass  of  whisky  before  him,  in  a 
bay  window  at  the  end  of  the  room,  which  looked 
out  on  the  harbour.     There  was  a  maritime  flavour 


Dialstone  Lane 

about  him  which  at  once  enlisted  Mr.  Chalk's  sym- 
pathies and  made  him  overlook  the  small,  steely- 
grey  eyes  and  large  and  somewhat  brutal  mouth. 


B^nrth.     wntNO 


**  '  Pme  Way,  g^tlemen/  said  the  stranger,  as  he  raised  hia  gUai." 

'*  Fine  day,   gentlemen,"  said  the  stranger,   nod- 
ding affably  to  Mr.  Chalk  as  he  raised  his  glass. 
Mr.    Chalk    assented,    and    began    a    somewhat 
ii6 


Dialstone  Lane 

minute   discussion   upon   the  weather,   which  lasted 
until  the  waiter  appeared  with  the  lunch. 

"  Bring  me  another  drop  o'  whisky,  George,"  said 
the  stranger,  as  the  latter  was  about  to  leave  the 
room,  "and  a  little  stronger,  d'ye  hear?  A  man 
might  drink  this  and  still  be  in  the  Band  of 
Hope." 

"  We  thought  it  wouldn't  do  for  you  to  get  the 
chuck  out  of  it  after  all  these  years,  Cap'n  Brisket," 
said  George,  calmly.  "  It's  a  whisky  that's  kept 
special  for  teetotalers  like  you." 

Captain  Brisket  gave  a  hoarse  laugh  and  winked 
at  Mr.  Stobell;  that  gentleman,  merely  pausing  to 
empty  his  mouth  and  drink  half  a  glass  of  beer, 
winked  back. 

"  Been  here  before,  sir?  "  Inquired  the  captain. 

Mr.  Stobell,  who  was  busy  again,  left  the  reply  to 
Mr.  Chalk. 

"  Several  times,"  said  the  latter.  "  I'm  very  fond 
of  the  sea." 

Captain  Brisket  nodded,  and,  taking  up  his  glass, 
moved  to  the  end  of  their  table,  with  the  air  of  a 
man  disposed  to  conversation. 

*'  There's  not  much  doing  In  BIddlecombe  nowa- 
days," he  remarked,  shaking  his  head.  "  Trade 
ain't  what  It  used  to  be;  ships  are  more  than  half 
their  time  looking  for  freights.  And  even  whea 
they  get  them  they're  hardly  worth  having." 

117 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Chalk  started  and,  leaning  over,  whispered 
to  Mr.  Tredgold. 

"  No  harm  in  it,"  said  the  latter.  "  Better  leave 
it  to  me.  Shipping's  dull,  then?  "  he  inquired,  turn- 
ing to  Captain  Brisket. 

"Dull?"  was  the  reply.  "Dull  ain't  no  name 
for  It." 

Mr.  Tredgold  played  with  a  salt-spoon  and 
frowned  thoughtfully. 

"  We've  been  looking  round  for  a  ship  this  morn- 
ing," he  said,  slowly. 

"  As  passengers?  "  inquired  the  captain,  staring. 

"  As  owners,"  put  in  Mr.  Chalk. 

Captain  Brisket,  greatly  interested,  drew  first  his 
glass  and  then  his  chair  a  yard  nearer.  "  Do  you 
mean  that  you  want  to  buy  one?"  he  inquired. 

"  Well,  we  might  if  we  could  get  one  cheap," 
admitted  Tredgold,  cautiously.  "We  had  some 
sort  of  an  idea  of  a  cruise  to  the  South  Pacific; 
pleasure,  with  perhaps  a  little  trading  mixed  up 
with  it.  I  suppose  some  of  these  old  schooners  can 
be  picked  up  for  the  price  of  an  old  song?  " 

The  captain,  grating  his  chair  along  the  floor, 
came  nearer  still;  so  near  that  Mr.  Stobell  instinct- 
ively put  out  his  right  elbow, 

"  You've  met  just  the  right  man,"  said  Captain 
Brisket,  with  a  boisterous  laugh.  "  I  know  a 
schooner,  two  hundred  and  forty  tons,  that  is  just 

118 


Dialstone  Lane 

the  identical  article  you're  looking  for,  good  as  new 
and  sound  as  a  belL  Are  you  going  to  sail  her  your- 
self? " 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  Stobell,  without  looking  up,  "  he 
ain't." 

"Got  a  master?"  demanded  Captain  Brisket, 
with  growing  excitement.  "  Don't  tell  me  you've 
got  a  master." 

"Why  not?"  growled  Mr.  Stobell,  who,  having 
by  this  time  arrived  at  the  cheese,  felt  that  he  had 
more  leisure  for  conversation. 

"  Because,"  shouted  the  other,  hitting  the  table  a 
thump  with  his  fist  that  upset  half  his  whisky — "  be- 
cause if  you  haven't  Bill  Brisket's  your  man." 

The  three  gentlemen  received  this  startling  intel- 
ligence with  such  a  lack  of  enthusiasm  that  Captain 
Brisket  was  fain  to  cover  what  In  any  other  man 
might  have  been  regarded  as  confusion  by  ringing 
the  bell  for  George  and  inquiring  with  great  stern- 
ness of  manner  why  he  had  not  brought  him  a  full 
glass. 

"  We  can't  do  things  In  five  minutes,"  said  Mr. 
Tredgold,  after  a  long  and  somewhat  trying  pause. 
"  First  of  all  we've  got  to  get  a  ship." 

"  The  craft  you  want  Is  over  the  other  side  of  the 
harbour  waiting  for  you,"  said  the  captain,  confi- 
dently. "  We'll  ferry  over  now  If  you  like,  or,  If 
you  prefer  to  go  by  yourselves,  do;  Bill  Brisket  is 

119 


Dialstone  Lane 

not  the  man  to  stand  in  anyone's  way,  whether  fee 
gets  anything  out  of  it  or  not." 

"  Hold  hard,"  said  Mr.  Stobell,  putting  up  hi« 
hand. 

Captain  Brisket  regarded  him  with  a  beaming 
smile;  Mr.  Stobell's  two  friends  waited  patiently. 

"  What  ud  a  schooner  like  that  fetch?  "  inquired 
Mr.  Stobell. 

*'  It  all  depends,"  said  Brisket.  "  Of  course,  if  I 
buy " 

Mr.  Stobell  held  up  his  hand  again,  "  All  de- 
pends whether  you  buy  it  for  us  or  sell  it  for  the 
man  it  belongs  to,  I  s'pose?"  he  said,  slowly. 

Captain  Brisket  jumped  up,  and  to  Mr.  Chalk's 
horror  smote  the  speaker  heavily  on  the  back.  Mr. 
Stobell,  clenching  a  fist  the  size  of  a  leg  of  mutton, 
pushed  his  chair  back  and  prepared  to  rise. 

"  You're  a  trump,"  said  Captain  Brisket,  in  tones 
of  unmistakable  respect,  "  that's  what  you  are. 
Lord,  if  I'd  got  the  head  for  business  you  have  I 
should  be  a  man  of  fortune  by  now." 

Mr.  Stobell,  who  had  half  risen,  sat  down  again, 
and,  for  the  first  time  since  his  last  contract  but  one, 
a  smile  played  lightly  about  the  corners  of  his  mouth. 
He  took  another  drink  and,  shaking  his  head 
slightly  as  he  put  the  glass  down,  smiled  again  with 
the  air  of  a  man  who  has  been  reproached  for  mak- 
ing a  pun. 

I20 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Let  me  do  it  for  you,"  said  Captain  Brisket, 
Impressively.  "  I'll  tell  you  where  to  go  without 
being  seen  in  the  matter  or  letting  old  Todd  know 
that  I'm  in  it.  Ask  him  a  price  and  bate  him  down; 
when  you've  got  his  lowest,  come  to  me  and  give 
me  one  pound  in  every  ten  I  save  you." 

Mr.  Tredgold  looked  at  his  friends.  "  If  we  do 
that,"  he  said,  turning  to  the  captain,  "  it  would  be 
to  your  interest  to  buy  the  ship  in  any  case.  How 
are  we  to  be  sure  she  is  seaworthy?  " 

"  Ah,  there  you  are !  "  said  Brisket,  with  an  ex- 
pansive smile.  "  You  let  me  buy  for  you  and  prom- 
ise me  the  master's  berth,  provided  you  are  satisfied 
with  my  credentials.  Common  sense'U  tell  you  I 
wouldn't  risk  my  own  carcass  in  a  rotten  ship." 

Mr.  Stobell  nodded  approval  and.  Captain 
Brisket  with  unexpected  delicacy  withdrawing  to  the 
window  and  becoming  interested  in  the  harbour,  con- 
ferred for  some  time  with  his  friends.  The  captain's 
offer  being  accepted,  subject  to  certain  conditions, 
they  settled  their  bill  and  made  their  way  to  the 
ferry. 

"  There's  the  schooner,"  said  the  captain,  point- 
ing, as  they  neared  the  opposite  shore;  "the  Fair 
Emily,  and  the  place  she  is  lying  at  is  called  Todd's 
Wharf.  Ask  for  Mr.  Todd,  or,  better  still,  walk 
straight  on  to  the  wharf  and  have  a  look  at  her. 
The  old  man'll  see  you  fast  enough." 

121 


Dialstone  Lane 

He  sprang  nimbly  ashore  as  the  boat's  head 
touched  the  stairs,  and  after  extending  a  hand  to  Mr. 
Chalk,  which  was  coldly  Ignored,  led  the  way  up 
the  steps  to  the  quay. 

"  There's  the  wharf  just  along  there,"  he  said, 
pointing  up  the  road.  "  I'll  wait  for  you  at  the  Jack 
Ashore  here.  Don't  offer  him  too  much  to  begin 
with." 

"  I  thought  of  offering  a  hundred  pounds,"  said 
Mr.  Tredgold.  "  If  the  ship's  sound  we  can't  be 
very  much  out  over  that  sum." 

Captain  Brisket  stared  at  him.  "No;  don't  do 
that,"  he  said,  recovering,  and  speaking  with  great 
gravity.     "  Offer  him  seventy.     Good  luck." 

He  watched  them  up  the  road  and  then,  with  a 
mysterious  grin,  turned  Into  the  Jack  Ashore,  and 
taking  a  seat  In  the  bar  waited  patiently  for  their 
return. 

Half  an  hour  passed.  The  captain  had  smoked 
one  pipe  and  was  half  through  another.  He  glanced 
at  the  clock  over  the  bar  and  fidgeted  as  an  unpleas- 
ant Idea  that  the  bargain,  despite  Mr.  Tredgold's 
Ideas  as  to  the  value  of  schooners,  might  have  been 
completed  without  his  assistance  occurred  to  him. 
He  took  a  sip  from  his  glass,  and  then  his  face 
softened  as  the  faint  sounds  of  a  distant  uproar 
broke  upon  his  ear. 

"  What's  that?  "  said  a  customer. 

122 


Dialstone  Lane 

The  landlord,  who  was  glancing  at  the  paper,  put 
it  down  and  listened.  "  Sounds  like  old  Todd  at  it 
again,"  he  said,  coming  round  to  the  front  of  the 
bar. 

The  noise  came  closer.  "  It  is  old  Todd,"  said 
another  customer,  and  hastily  finishing  his  beer 
moved  with  the  others  to  the  door.  Captain  Brisket, 
with  a  fine  air  of  indifference,  lounged  after  them, 
and  peering  over  their  shoulders  obtained  a  good 
view  of  the  approaching  disturbance. 

His  three  patrons,  with  a  hopeless  attempt  to 
appear  unconcerned,  were  coming  down  the  road, 
while  close  behind  a  respectable-looking  old  gentle- 
man with  a  long,  white  beard  and  a  voice  like  a  fog- 
horn almost  danced  with  excitement.  They  quick- 
ened their  pace  as  they  neared  the  inn,  and  Mr. 
Chalk,  throwing  appearances  to  the  winds,  almost 
dived  through  the  group  at  the  door.  He  was  at 
once  followed  by  Mr.  Tredgold,  but  Mr.  Stobell, 
black  with  wrath,  paused  in  the  doorway. 

"  Fetch  'em  out,"  vociferated  the  old  gentle- 
man as  the  landlord  barred  the  doorway  with  his 
arms.  "  Fetch  that  red-whiskered  one  out  and  I'll 
eat  him." 

"What's  the  matter,  Mr.  Todd?"  inquired  the 
landlord,  with  a  glance  at  his  friends.  "  What's  he 
done?" 

"  Done? "  repeated  the  excitable  Mr.  Todd. 
123 


Dialstone   Lane 

"  Done?     They  come  walking  on  to  my  wharf  as  if 
the  place Fetch  him  out,"  he  bawled,  break- 


"  His  three  patrons,  with  a  hopeless    attempt   to 
appear  unconcerned,  were  coming  down  the  road." 

ing  off  suddenly.     "  Fetch  him  out  and  I'll  skin  him 
alive." 

Captain  Brisket  took  Mr.  Stobell  by  the  cuff  and 
after  a  slight  altercation  drew  him  inside. 

**  Tell  that  red-whiskered  man  to  come  outside," 
bawled  Mr.  Todd.     "  What's  he  afraid  of?  " 

"What  have  you  been  doing  to  him?"  inquired 
Captain  Brisket,  turning  to  the  pallid  Mr.  Chalk. 

*'  Nothing,"  was  the  reply. 
124 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Is  he  coming  out?  "  demanded  the  terrible  voice, 
"  or  have  I  got  to  wait  here  all  night?  Why  don't 
he  come  outside,  and  I'll  break  every  bone  in  his 
body." 

Mr.  Stobell  scratched  his  head  in  gloomy  per- 
plexity; then,  as  his  gaze  fell  upon  the  smiling  coun- 
tenances of  Mr.  Todd's  fellow-townsmen,  his  face 
cleared. 

"  He's  an  old  man,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  but  if  any 
of  you  would  like  to  step  outside  with  me  for  five 
minutes,  you've  only  got  to  say  the  word,  you 
know." 

Nobody  manifesting  any  signs  of  accepting  this 
offer,  he  turned  away  and  took  a  seat  by  the  side  of 
the  indignant  Tredgold.  Mr.  Todd,  after  a  final 
outburst,  began  to  feel  exhausted,  and  forsaking  his 
prey  with  much  reluctance  allowed  himself  to  be 
led  away.  Snatches  of  a  strong  and  copious  bene- 
diction, only  partly  mellowed  by  distance,  fell  upon 
the  ears  of  the  listeners. 

"  Did  you  offer  him  the  seventy?  "  inquired  Cap- 
tain Brisket,  turning  to  Mr.  Tredgold, 

"  /  did,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  plaintively. 

"  Ah,"  said  the  captain,  regarding  him  thought- 
fully; "perhaps  you  ought  to  ha'  made  It  eighty. 
He's  asking  eight  hundred  for  it,  I  understand." 

Mr.  Tredgold  turned  sharply.  "  Eight  hun- 
dred? "  he  gasped. 

125 


Dialstone   Lane 

The  captain  nodded.     "  And  I'm  not  saying  it's 
not  worth  it,"  he  said,  "  but  I  might  be  able  to  get 


"Captain  Brisket  waving  farewells  from  the  quay  as  they  embarked." 

it   for  you   for  six.      You'd  better  leave   it  to   me 
now." 

Mr.  Tredgold  at  first  said  he  would  have  noth- 
ing more  to  do  with  it,  but  under  the  softening 
influence  of  a  pipe  and  a  glass  was  induced  to  re- 
consider his  decision.  Captain  Brisket,  waving  fare- 
wells from  the  quay  as  they  embarked  on  the  ferry- 
boat later  on  in  the  afternoon,  bore  in  his  pocket  the 
cards  of  all  three  gentlemen,  together  with  a  commis- 
sion entrusting  him  with  the  preliminary  negotiations 
for  the  purchase  of  the  Fair  Emily. 

126 


CHAPTER    IX 


T 


"^HE  church  bells  were  ringing  for  morning 
service  as  Mr.  Vickers,  who  had  been  for 
a  stroll  with  Mr.  William  Russell  and  a 
couple  of  ferrets,  returned  home  to  breakfast.  Con- 
trary to  custom,  the  small  front  room  and  the  kitchen 
were  both  empty,  and  breakfast,  with  the  exception 
of  a  cold  herring  and  the  bitter  remains  of  a  pot  of 
tea,  had  been  cleared  away. 

"  I've  known  men  afore  now,"  murmured  Mr. 
Vickers,  eyeing  the  herring  disdainfully,  "  as  would 
take  It  by  the  tail  and  smack  'em  acrost  the  face 
with  It." 

He  cut  himself  a  slice  of  bread,  and,  pouring  out 
a  cup  of  cold  tea,  began  his  meal,  ever  and  anon 
stopping  to  listen,  with  a  puzzled  face,  to  a  continu- 
ous squeaking  overhead.  It  sounded  like  several 
pairs  of  new  boots  all  squeaking  at  once,  but  Mr. 
Vickers,  who  was  a  reasonable  man  and  past  the 
age  of  self-deception,  sought  for  a  more  probable 
cause. 

A  particularly  aggressive  squeak  detached  Itself 
from  the  others  and  sounded  on  the  stairs.  The 
resemblance  to  the  noise  made  by  new  boots  was 

127 


Dialstone  Lane 

stronger  than  ever.  It  was  new  boots.  The  door 
opened,  and  Mr.  Vickers,  with  a  slice  of  bread 
arrested  half-way  to  his  mouth,  sat  gazing  in  aston- 


"  Mr.  Vickers  had  been  for  a  stroll   with   Mr.  William   Russell." 

Ishment  at  Charles  Vickers,  clad  for  the  first  time 
in  his  life  in  new  raiment  from  top  to  toe.  Ere  he 
could  voice  inquiries,  an  avalanche  of  squeaks  de- 
scended the  stairs,  and  the  rest  of  the  children,  all 
smartly  clad,  with  Selina  bringing  up  the  rear,  burst 
into  the  room. 

128 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  What  is  it?  "  demanded  Mr.  VIckers,  in  a  voice 
husky  with  astonishment;  "a  bean-feast?" 

Miss  Vickers,  who  was  doing  up  a  glove  which 
possessed  more  buttons  than  his  own  waistcoat, 
looked  up  and  eyed  him  calmly.  "  New  clothes — 
and  not  before  they  wanted  'em,"  she  replied, 
tartly. 

"  New  clothes?  "  repeated  her  father,  in  a  scan- 
dalized voice.     "  Where'd  they  get  'em?  " 

*'  Shop,"  said  his  daughter,  briefly. 

Mr.  Vickers  rose  and,  approaching  his  offspring, 
inspected  them  with  the  same  interest  that  he  would 
have  bestowed  upon  a  wax-works.  A  certain  stiff- 
ness of  pose  combined  with  the  glassy  stare  which 
met  his  gaze  helped  to  favour  the  illusion. 

"  For  once  in  their  lives  they're  respectable,"  said 
Selina,  regarding  them  with  moist  eyes.  "  Soap  and 
water  they've  always  had,  bless  'em,  but  you've  never 
seen  'em  dressed  like  this  before." 

Before  Mr.  Vickers  could  frame  a  reply  a  squeak- 
ing which  put  all  the  others  in  the  shade  sounded 
from  above.  It  crossed  the  floor  on  hurried  excur- 
sions to  different  parts  of  the  room,  and  then,  hesi- 
tating for  a  moment  at  the  head  of  the  stairs,  came 
slowly  and  ponderously  down  until  Mrs.  Vickers, 
looking  somewhat  nervous,  stood  revealed  before  her 
expectant  husband.  In  scornful  surprise  he  gazed  at 
a  blue  cloth  dress,  a  black  velvet  cape  trimmed  with 

129 


Dialstone  Lane 

bugles,  and  a  bonnet  so  aggressively  new  that  It  had 
not  yet  accommodated  Itself  to  Mrs.  Vickers's  style 
of  halr-dresslng. 

"  Go  on!  "  he  breathed.  "  Go  on!  Don't  mind 
me.  What,  you — you — you're  not  going  to 
church?  " 

Mrs.  VIckers  glanced  at  the  books  In  her  hand — 
also  new — and  trembled. 

"And  why  not?"  demanded  Sellna.  "  Why 
shouldn't  we?  " 

Mr.  VIckers  took  another  amazed  glance  round 
and  his  brow  darkened. 

^*  Where  did  you  get  the  money?  "  he  Inquired. 

**  Saved  It,"  said  his  daughter,  reddening  despite 
herself. 

''''Saved  it?"  repeated  the  justly-astonished  Mr. 
VIckers.  ''^  Saved  it?  Ah!  out  of  my  money;  out 
of  the  money  I  toil  and  moil  for — out  of  the  money 
that  ought  to  be  spent  on  food.  No  wonder  you're 
always  complaining  that  it  ain't  enough.  I  won't 
'ave  It,  d'ye  hear?     I'll  have  my  rights;   I'll " 

*'  Don't  make  so  much  noise,"  said  his  daughter, 
who  was  stooping  down  to  ease  one  of  Mrs.  Vickers's 
boots.  *'  You  would  have  fours,  mother,  and  I  told 
you  what  it  would  be." 

"  He  said  that  I  ought  to  wear  threes  by  rights," 
said  Mrs.  VIckers;   "  I  used  to." 

"  And  I  s'pose,"  said  Mr.  VIckers,  who  had  been 
130 


Dialstone   Lane 

listening  to  these  remarks  with  considerable  impa- 
tience— "  I  s'pose  there's  a  bran'  new  suit  o'  clothes, 
and  a  pair  o'  boots,  and  'arf-a-dozen  shirts,  and  a, 
new  hat  hid  upstairs  for  me?  " 

"  Yes,  they're  hid  all  right,"  retorted  the  dutiful 
Miss  Vickers.  "  You  go  upstairs  and  amuse  your- 
self looking  for  'em.  Go  and  have  a  game  of  '  hot 
boiled  beans  '  all  by  yourself." 

"  Why,  you  must  hav^e  been  stinting  me  for 
years,"  continued  Mr.  Vickers,  examining  the  vari- 
ous costumes  in  detail.  "  This  is  what  comes  o' 
keeping  quiet  and  trusting  you — not  but  what  I've 
'ad  my  suspicions.  My  own  kids  taking  the  bread 
out  o'  my  mouth  and  buying  boots  with  it;  my  own 
wife  going  about  in  a  bonnet  that's  took  me  weeks 
and  weeks  to  earn." 

His  words  fell  on  deaf  ears.  No  adjutant  getting 
his  regiment  ready  for  a  march-past  could  have  taken 
more  trouble  than  Miss  Vickers  was  taking  at  this 
moment  over  her  small  company.  Caps  were  set 
straight  and  sleeves  pulled  down.  Her  face  shone 
with  pride  and  her  eyes  glistened  as  the  small  fry, 
discoursing  in  excited  whispers,   filed  stiffly  out. 

A  sudden  cessation  of  gossip  in  neighbouring 
doorways  testified  to  the  impression  made  by  their 
appearance.  Past  little  startled  groups  the  proces- 
sion picked  its  way  in  squeaking  pride,  with  Mrs. 
Vickers  and  Selina  bringing  up  the  rear.     The  chil- 

131 


Dialstone  Lane 

dren  went  by  with  little  set,  important  faces;  but 
Miss  Vickers's  little  bows  and  pleased  smiles  of  rec- 
ognition to  acquaintances  were  so  lady-lilce  that  sev- 
eral untidy  matrons   retired   inside   their   houses   to 


**' Why,  you  must  have  been  stinting  me  for  years,'  continued  Mr.  Vickers." 

wrestle  grimly  with  feelings  too  strong  for  outside 
display. 

"  Pack  o'  prancing  peacocks,"  said  the  unnatural 
Mr.  Vickers,  as  the  procession  wound  round  the 
corner. 

132 


Dialstone  Lane 

He  stood  looking  vacantly  up  the  street  until  the 
gathering  excitement  of  his  neighbours  aroused  new 
feelings.  Vanity  stirred  within  him,  and  leaning 
casually  against  the  door-post  he  yawned  and  looked 
at  the  chimney-pots  opposite.  A  neighbour  in  a 
pair  of  corduroy  trousers,  supported  by  one  brace 
worn  diagonally,  shambled  across  the  road. 

"What's  up?"  he  inquired,  with  a  jerk  of  the 
thumb  in  the  direction  of  Mr,  Vickers's  vanished 
family. 

"Up?"  repeated  Mr.  Vickers,  with  an  air  of 
languid  surprise. 

"  Somebody  died  and  left  you  a  fortin?  "  inquired 
the  other. 

"  Not  as  I  knows  of,"  replied  Mr.  Vickers,  star- 
ing.    "Why?" 

''Whyf  exclaimed  the  other.  "Why,  new 
clothes  all  over.      I  never  see  such  a  turn-out." 

Mr.  Vickers  regarded  him  with  an  air  of  lofty 
disdain.  "  Kids  must  'ave  new  clothes  sometimes,  I 
s'pose?"  he  said,  slowly.  "You  wouldn't  'ave  'em 
going  about  of  a  Sunday  in  a  ragged  shirt  and  a 
pair  of  trowsis,  would  you?  " 

The  shaft  passed  harmlessly.  "  Why  not?  "  said 
the  other.      "  They  gin'rally  do." 

Mr.  Vickers's  denial  died  away  on  his  lips.  In 
twos  and  threes  his  neighbours  had  drawn  gradually 
near  and  now  stood  by  listening  expectantly.     The 

133 


Dialstone  Lane 

idea  of  a  fortune  was  common  to  all  of  them,  and 
they  were  anxious  for  particulars. 


"  They  were  anxious  for  particulars." 

*'  Some  people  have   all  the   luck,"   said  a   stout 
matron.     "  I've  'ad  thirteen  and  buried  seven,  and 

134 


Dialstone   Lane 

never  'ad  so  much  as  a  chiney  tea-pot  left  me.  One 
thing  is,  I  never  could  make  up  to  people  for  the 
sake  of  what  I  could  get  out  of  them.  1  couldn't 
not  if  I  tried.  I  must  speak  my  mind  free  and 
independent." 

"  Ah !  that's  how  you  get  yourself  disliked," 
said  another  lady,  shaking  her  head  sympathetic- 
ally. 

"  Disliked?  "  said  the  stout  matron,  turning  on 
her  fiercely.  "What  d'ye  mean?  You  don't  know 
what  you're  talking  about.  Who's  getting  them- 
selves disliked?  " 

"  A  lot  o'  good  a  chiney  tea-pot  would  be  to  you," 
said  the  other,  with  a  ready  change  of  front,  "  or  any 
other  kind  o'  tea-pot." 

Surprise  and  indignation  deprived  the  stout  matron 
of  utterance. 

"  Or  a  milk-jug  either,"  pursued  her  opponent, 
following  up  her  advantage.  "  Or  a  coffee-pot, 
or " 

The  stout  matron  advanced  upon  her,  and  her 
mien  was  so  terrible  that  the  other,  retreating  to  her 
house,  slammed  the  door  behind  her  and  continued 
the  discussion  from  a  first-floor  window.  Mint 
Street,  with  the  conviction  that  Mr.  Vickers's  tidings 
could  wait,  swarmed  across  the  road  to  listen. 

Mr.  Vickers  himself  listened  for  a  little  while  to 
such  fragments  as  came  his  way,   and  then,   going 

135 


Dialstone  Lane 

indoors,  sat  down  amid  the  remains  of  his  break- 
fast to  endeavour  to  solve  the  mystery  of  the  new 
clothes. 

He  took  a  short  clay  pipe  from  his  pocket,  and, 
igniting  a  little  piece  of  tobacco  which  remained  in 
the  bowl,  endeavoured  to  form  an  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  each  person's  wardrobe.  The  sum  soon  be- 
coming too  large  to  work  in  his  head,  he  had  re- 
course to  pencil  and  paper,  and  after  five  minutes' 
hard  labour  sat  gazing  at  a  total  which  made  his 
brain  reel.  The  fact  that  immediately  afterwards 
he  was  unable  to  find  even  a  few  grains  of  tobacco 
at  the  bottom  of  his  box  furnished  a  contrast  which 
almost  made  him  maudlin. 

He  sat  sucking  at  his  cold  pipe  and  indulging  in 
hopeless  conjectures  as  to  the  source  of  so  much 
wealth,  and,  with  a  sudden  quickening  of  the  pulse, 
wondered  whether  it  had  all  been  spent.  His  mind 
wandered  from  Selina  to  Mr.  Joseph  Tasker,  and 
almost  imperceptibly  the  absurdities  of  which  young 
men  in  love  could  be  capable  occurred  to  him.  He 
remembered  the  extravagances  of  his  own  youth,  and 
bethinking  himself  of  the  sums  he  had  squandered 
on  the  future  Mrs.  VIckers — sums  which  increased 
with  the  compound  interest  of  repetition — came  to 
the  conclusion  that  Mr.  Tasker  had  been  more  fool- 
ish still. 

It  seemed  the  only  possible  explanation.  His  eye 
136 


Dialstone  Lane 

brightened,  and,  knocking  the  ashes  out  of  his  pipe, 
he  crossed  to  the  tap  and  washed  his  face. 

"  If  he  can't  lend  a  trifle  to  the  man  what's  going 
to  be  his  father-in-law,"  he  said,  cheerfully,  as  he 
polished  his  face  on  a  roller-towel,  "  I  shall  tell  'im 
he  can't  have  Selina,  that's  all.  I'll  go  and  see  'im 
afore  she  gets  any  more  out  of  him." 

He  walked  blithely  up  the  road,  and,  after  shaking 
off  one  or  two  inquirers  whose  curiosity  was  almost 
proof  against  insult,  made  his  way  to  Dialstone  Lane. 
In  an  unobtrusive  fashion  he  glided  round  to  the 
back,  and,  opening  the  kitchen  door,  bestowed  a 
beaming  smile  upon  the  startled  Joseph. 

"  Busy,  my  lad?  "   he  inquired. 

"What  d'ye  want?"  asked  Mr.  Tasker,  whose 
face  was  flushed  with  cooking. 

Mr.  Vickers  opened  the  door  a  little  wider,  and, 
stepping  inside,  closed  it  softly  behind  him  and 
dropped  into  a  chair. 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,  my  lad,"  he  said,  benevo- 
lently.    "  Selina's  all  right." 

"What  d'ye  want?"  repeated  Mr.  Tasker. 
"  Who  told  you  to  come  round  here?  " 

Mr.  Vickers  looked  at  him  in  reproachful  sur- 
prise. 

"  I  suppose  a  father  can  come  round  to  see  his 
future  son-in-law?  "  he  said,  with  some  dignity.  "  I 
don't   want   to   do   no    interrupting   of   your   work, 


Dialstone   Lane 

Joseph,  but  I  couldn't  'elp  just  stepping  round  to 
tell  you  how  nice  they  all  looked.  Where  you  got 
the  money  from  I  can't  think." 

"Have  you  gone  dotty,  or  what?"  demanded 
Mr.  Tasker,  who  was  busy  wiping  out  a  saucepan. 
"Who  looked  nice?" 

Mr.  Vickers  shook  his  head  at  him  and  smiled 
waggishly. 

"  Ah!  who?  "  he  said,  with  much  enjoyment.  "  I 
tell  you  it  did  my  father's  'art  good  to  see  'em  all 
dressed  up  like  that;  and  when  I  thought  of  its  all 
being  owing  to  you,  sit  down  at  home  in  comfort 
with  a  pipe  instead  of  coming  to  thank  you  for  it 
I  could  not.  Not  if  you  was  to  have  paid  me  I 
couldn't." 

"  Look  'ere,"  said  Mr.  Tasker,  putting  the  sauce- 
pan down  with  a  bang,  "  if  you  can't  talk  plain, 
common  English  you'd  better  get  out.  I  don't  want 
you  'ere  at  all  as  a  matter  o'  fact,  but  to  have  you 
sitting  there  shaking  your  silly  'ead  and  talking  a 
pack  o'  nonsense  is  more  than  I  can  stand." 

Mr.  Vickers  gazed  at  him  in  perplexity.  *'  Do 
you  mean  to  tell  me  you  haven't  been  giving  my 
Selina  money  to  buy  new  clothes  for  the  young 
'uns?"  he  demanded,  sharply.  "Do  you  mean  to 
tell  me  that  Selina  didn't  get  money  out  of  you  to 
buy  herself  and  'er  mother  and  all  of  'em — except 
mc — a  new  rig-out  from  top  to  toe?  " 

138 


Dialstone  Lane 

**  D'ye  think  I've  gone  mad,  or  what?  "  Inquired 
the  amazed  Mr.  Tasker.  "  What  d'ye  think  I 
should  want  to  buy  clothes  for  your  young  'uns 
for?  That's  your  duty.  And  Selina,  too;  I  haven't 
given  'er  anything  except  a  ring,  and  she  lent 
me  the  money  for  that.  D'ye  think  I'm  made  o' 
money?  " 

"  All  right,  Joseph,"  said  Mr.  Vickers,  secretly 
Incensed  at  this  unforeseen  display  of  caution  on 
Mr.  Tasker's  part.  "  I  s'pose  the  fairies  come  and 
put  'em  on  while  they  was  asleep.  But  it's  dry  work 
walking;  'ave  you  got  such  a  thing  as  a  glass  o' 
water  you  could  give  me?  " 

The  other  took  a  glass  from  the  dresser  and, 
Ignoring  the  eye  of  his  prospective  father-in-law, 
which  was  glued  to  a  comfortable-looking  barrel  in 
the  corner,  filled  it  to  the  brim  with  fair  water  and 
handed  it  to  him.  Mr.  Vickers,  giving  him  a  surly 
nod,  took  a  couple  of  dainty  sips  and  placed  It  on 
the  table. 

"  It's  very  nice  water,"  he  said,  sarcastically. 

"  Is  It?  "  said  Mr.  Tasker.  "  We  don't  drink  It 
ourselves,  except  In  tea  or  coffee;  the  cap'n  says  It 
ain't  safe." 

Mr.  Vickers  brought  his  eye  from  the  barrel  and 
glared  at  him. 

"  I  s'pose,  Joseph,"  he  said,  after  a  long  pause, 
during  which  Mr.  Tasker  was  busy  making  up  the 

139 


Dialstone   Lane 

fire — **  I  s'pose  Sellna  didn't  tell  you  you  wasn't  to 
tell  me  about  the  money?  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  you're  driving  at,"  said  the 
other,  confronting  him  angrily.  "  I  haven't  got  no 
money." 

Mr.  VIckers  coughed.  "  Don't  say  that,  Jo- 
seph," he  urged,  softly;  "don't  say  that,  my  lad. 
As  a  matter  o'  fact,  I  come  round  to  you,  Inter- 
rupting of  you  In  your  work,  and  I'm  sorry  for  It — 
knowing  how  fond  of  it  you  are — to  see  whether  I — • 
I  couldn't  borrow  a  trifle  for  a  day  or  two." 

"Ho,  did  you?"  commented  Mr.  Tasker,  who 
had  opened  the  oven  door  and  was  using  his  hand 
as  a  thermometer. 

His  visitor  hesitated.  It  was  no  use  asking  for 
too  much ;  on  the  other  hand,  to  ask  for  less  than  he 
could  get  would  be  unpardonable  folly. 

"  If  I  could  lay  my  hand  on  a  couple  o'  quid,"  he 
said,  in  a  mysterious  whisper,  "  I  could  make  it  five 
in  a  week." 

"  Well,  why  don't  you  ?  "  Inquired  Mr.  Tasker, 
who  was  tenderly  sucking  the  bulb  of  the  thermom- 
eter after  contact  with  the  side  of  the  oven. 

"  It's  the  two  quid  that's  the  trouble,  Joseph," 
replied  Mr.  Vickers,  keeping  his  temper  with  diffi- 
culty. "  A  little  thing  like  that  wouldn't  be  much 
trouble  to  you,  I  know,  but  to  a  pore  man  with  a 
large  family  like  me  it's  a'most  impossible." 

140 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Tasker  went  outside  to  the  larder,  and  re- 
turning with  a  small  joint  knelt  down  and  thrust  it 
carefully  into  the  oven. 

"  A'most  impossible,"  repeated  Mr.  Vickers,  with 
a  sigh. 

"  What  is?  "  inquired  the  other,  who  had  not  been 
listening. 

The  half-choking  Mr.  Vickers  explained. 

"  Yes,  o'  course  it  is,"  assented  Mr.  Tasker. 

"  People  what's  got  money,"  said  the  offended  Mr. 
Vickers,  regarding  him  fiercely,  "  stick  to  it  like 
leeches.  Now,  suppose  I  v/v.s  a  yoim^^  man  keeping 
company  with  a  gal  and  her  father  wanted  to  borrow 
a  couple  o'  quid — a  paltry  couple  o'  thick  'uns — 
what  d'ye  think  I  should  do?  " 

"  If  you  was  a  young  man — keeping  company 
with  a  gal — and  'er  father  wanted — to  borrow  a 
couple  of  quid  off  o'  you — what  would  you  do?" 
repeated  Mr.  Tasker,  mechanically,  as  he  bustled  to 
and  fro. 

Mr.  Vickers  nodded  and  smiled.  '*  What  should 
I  do?  "  he  inquired  again,  hopefully. 

*'  I  don't  know,  I'm  sure,"  said  the  other, 
opening  the  oven  door  and  peering  in.  "  How 
should  I?" 

At  the  Imminent  risk  of  something  Inside  giving 
way  under  the  strain,  Mr.  Vickers  restrained  himself. 
He   breathed   hard,    and   glancing   out   of  window 

141 


Dialstone  Lane 

sought  to  regain  his  equilibrium  by  becoming  inter- 
ested in  a  blackbird  outside. 

"  What  I  mean  to  say  is,"  he  said  at  length,  in  a 
trembling  voice — "  what  I  mean  to  say  is,  without 
no  roundaboutedness,  will  you  lend  a  'ard-working 
man,  what's  going  to  be  your  future  father-in-law, 
a  couple  o'  pounds?  " 

Mr.  Tasker  laughed.  It  was  not  a  loud  laugh, 
nor  yet  a  musical  one.  It  was  merely  a  laugh  de- 
signed to  convey  to  the  incensed  Mr.  Vickers  a  strong 
sense  of  the  absurdity  of  his  request. 

"  I  asked  you  a  question,"  said  the  latter  gen- 
tleman, glaring  at  him. 

"  I  haven't  got  a  couple  o'  pounds,"  replied  Mr. 
Tasker;  "and  if  I  'ad,  there's  nine  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  things  I  would  sooner  do  with  it  than 
lend  it  to  you." 

Mr.  Vickers  rose  and  stood  regarding  the  ignoble 
creature  with  profound  contempt.  His  features 
worked  and  a  host  of  adjectives  crowded  to  his  lips. 

"  Is  that  your  last  word,  Joseph?  "  he  inquired, 
with  solemn  dignity. 

"  I'll  say  it  all  over  again  if  you  like,"  said  the 
obliging  Mr.  Tasker.  "  If  you  want  money,  go  and 
earn  it,  same  as  I  have  to;  don't  come  round  'ere 
cadging  on  me,  because  it's  no  good." 

Mr.  Vickers  laughed;  a  dry,  contemptuous  laugh, 
terrible  to  hear. 

142 


Dialstone  Lane 

**  And  that's  the  man  that's  going  to  marry  my 
daughter,"  he  said,  slowly;  "that's  the  man  that's 


"  Mr.  Vickers  rose  and  stood  regarding  the  ignoble  creature  with  profound 
contempt." 

going  to  marry  into  my  family.     Don't  you  expect 
me  to  take  you  up  and  point  you  out  as  my  son-in- 

143 


Dialstone  Lane 

law,  cos  I  won't  do  it.  If  there's  anything  I  can't 
abide  it's  stinginess.  And  there's  my  gal — my  pore 
gal  don't  know  your  real  character.  Wait  till  I've 
told  'er  about  this  morning  and  opened  'er  eyes! 
Wait  till " 

He  stopped  abruptly  as  the  door  leading  to  the 
front  room  opened  and  revealed  the  inquiring  face  of 
Captain  Bowers. 

"  What's  all  this  noise  about,  Joseph?  "  demanded 
the  captain,  harshly. 

Mr.  Tasker  attempted  to  explain,  but  his  expla- 
nation involving  a  character  for  Mr.  Vickers  which 
that  gentleman  declined  to  accept  on  any  terms,  he 
broke  in  and  began  to  give  his  own  version  of  the 
affair.  Much  to  Joseph's  surprise  the  captain  lis- 
tened patiently. 

"Did  you  buy  all  those  things,  Joseph?"  he 
inquired,  carelessly,  as  Mr.  Vickers  paused  for 
breath. 

"  Cert'nly  not,  sir,"  replied  Mr.  Tasker.  "  Where 
should  I  get  the  money  from?  " 

The  captain  eyed  him  without  replying,  and  a 
sudden  suspicion  occurred  to  him.  The  strange  dis- 
appearance of  the  map,  followed  by  the  sudden  ces- 
sation of  Mr.  Chalk's  visits,  began  to  link  them- 
selves to  this  tale  of  unexpected  wealth.  He  be- 
stowed another  searching  glance  upon  the  agitated 
Mr.  Tasker. 

144 


Dialstone  Lane 

"You  haven't  sold  anything  lately,  have  you?" 
he  inquired,  with  startling  gruffness. 

**  I  haven't  'ad  nothing  to  sell,  sir,"  replied  the 
other,  in  astonishment.  "  And  I  dare  say  Mr.  Vick- 
ers  here  saw  a  new  pair  o'  boots  on  one  o'  the  young 
'uns  and  dreamt  all  the  rest." 

Mr.  Vickers  intervened  with  passion. 

"  That'll  do,"  said  the  captain,  sharply.  "  How 
dare  you  make  that  noise  in  my  house?  I  think  that 
the  tale  about  the  clothes  is  all  right,"  he  added, 
turning  to  Joseph.  "  I  saw  them  go  into  church 
looking  very  smart.  And  you  know  nothing  about 
it?" 

Mr.  Tasker's  astonishment  was  too  genuine  to  be 
mistaken,  and  the  captain,  watching  him  closely, 
transferred  his  suspicions  to  a  more  deserving  object. 
Mr.  Vickers  caught  his  eye  and  essayed  a  smile. 

"  Dry  work  talking,  sir,"  he  said,  gently. 

Captain  Bowers  eyed  him  steadily.  "  Have  we 
got  any  beer,  Joseph?  "  he  inquired. 

*'  Plenty  in  the  cask,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Tasker,  re- 
luctantly. 

"  Well,  keep  your  eye  on  it,"  said  the  captain. 
**  Good  morning,  Mr.  Vickers." 

But  disappointment  and  indignation  got  the  bet- 
ter of  Mr.  Vickers's  politeness. 


145 


CHAPTER    X 

«     A      PENNY    for  your   thoughts,   uncle,"   said 

JL\         Miss    Drewitt,    as    they    sat    at    dinner 
■^    -^      an  hour  or  two  after  the  departure  of 
Mr.  Vickers. 

^^  H'mf^^  said  the  captain,  with  a  guilty  start. 

"  You've  been  scowling  and  smiling  by  turns  for 
the  last  five  minutes,"  said  his  niece. 

"  I  was  thinking  about  that  man  that  was  here 
this  morning,"  said  the  captain,  slowly;  "trying  to 
figure  it  out.     If  I  thought  that  that  girl  Selina " 

He  took  a  draught  of  ale  and  shook  his  head 
solemnly. 

"  You  know  my  ideas  about  that,"  said  Prudence. 

*'  Your  poor  mother  was  obstinate,"  commented 
the  captain,  regarding  her  tolerantly.  "  Once  she  got 
an  idea  into  her  head  it  stuck  there,  and  nothing 
made  her  more  angry  than  proving  to  her  that  she 
was  wrong.  Trying  to  prove  to  her,  I  should  have 
said." 

Miss  Drewitt  smiled  amiably.  *'  Well,  you've 
earned  half  the  sum,"  she  said.  "  Now,  what  were 
you  smiling  about?  " 

146 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Didn't  know  I  was  smiling,"  declared  the  cap- 
tain. 

With  marvellous  tact  he  turned  the  conversation 
to  lighthouses,  a  subject  upon  which  he  discoursed 
with  considerable  fluency  until  the  meal  was  finished. 
Miss  Drewitt,  who  had  a  long  memory  and  at  least 
her  fair  share  of  curiosity,  returned  to  the  charge  as 
he  smoked  half  a  pipe  preparatory  to  accompany- 
ing her  for  a  walk. 

"  You're  looking  very  cheerful,"  she  remarked. 

The  captain's  face  fell  several  points.  "  Am  I?  " 
he  said,  ruefully.     "  I  didn't  mean  to." 

"  Why  not?  "  inquired  his  niece. 

*'  I  mean  I  didn't  know  I  was,"  he  replied,  "  more 
than  usual,  I  mean.  I  always  do  look  fairly  cheer- 
ful— at  least,  I  hope  I  do.  There's  nothing  to  make 
me  look  the  opposite." 

Miss  Drewitt  eyed  him  carefully  and  then  passed 
upstairs  to  put  on  her  hat.  Relieved  of  her  pres- 
ence the  captain  walked  to  the  small  glass  over  the 
mantelpiece  and,  regarding  his  tell-tale  features  with 
gloomy  dissatisfaction,  acquired,  after  one  or  two 
attempts,  an  expression  which  he  flattered  himself 
defied  analysis. 

He  tapped  the  barometer  which  hung  by  the  door 
as  they  went  out,  and,  checking  a  remark  which 
rose  to  his  lips,  stole  a  satisfied  glance  at  the  face 
by  his  side, 

147 


Dialstone  Lane 

*'  Clark's  farm  by  the  footpaths  would  be  a  nice 
walk,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  as  they  reached  the  end 
of  the  lane. 

The  captain  started.  "  I  was  thinking  of  Dutton 
Priors,"  he  said,  slowly.  "  We  could  go  there  by 
Hanger's  Lane  and  home  by  the  road." 

"  The  footpaths  would  be  nice  to-day,"  urged  his 
niece. 

"  You  try  my  way,"  said  the  captain,  jovially. 

*'  Have  you  got  any  particular  reason  for  want- 
ing to  go  to  Dutton  Priors  this  afternoon?"  in- 
quired the  girl. 

"Reason?"  said  the  captain.  "Good  gracious, 
no.  What  reason  should  I  have?  My  leg  is  a  trifle 
stiff  to-day  for  stiles,  but  still " 

Miss  Drewitt  gave  way  at  once,  and,  taking  his 
arm,  begged  him  to  lean  on  her,  questioning  him 
anxiously  as  to  his  fitness  for  a  walk  in  any  direction. 

"  Walking'll  do  it  good,"  was  the  reply,  as  they 
proceeded  slowly  down  the  High  Street. 

He  took  his  watch  from  his  pocket,  and,  after 
comparing  it  with  the  town  clock,  peered  furtively 
right  and  left,  gradually  slackening  his  pace  until 
Miss  Drewitt's  fears  for  his  leg  became  almost  con- 
tagious. At  the  old  stone  bridge,  spanning  the  river 
at  the  bottom  of  the  High  Street,  he  paused,  and, 
resting  his  arms  on  the  parapet,  became  intent  on 
a  derelict  punt.     On  the  subject  of  sitting  in  a  craft 

148 


Dialstone  Lane 

of  that  description  in  mid-stream  catching  fish  he 
discoursed  at  such  length  that  the  girl  eyed  him  in 
amazement. 

"  Shall  we  go  on?  "  she  said,  at  length. 

The  captain  turned  and,  merely  pausing  to  point 
out  the  difference  between  the  lines  of  a  punt  and  a 


*'  He  became  intent  on  a  derelict  punt." 

dinghy,  with  a  digression  to  sampans  which  In- 
cluded a  criticism  of  the  Chinese  as  boat-builders, 
prepared  to  depart.  He  cast  a  swift  glance  up  the 
road  as  he  did  so,  and  Miss  Drewltt's  cheek  flamed 
with  sudden  wrath  as  she  saw  Mr.  Edward  Tredgold 
hastening  towards  them.      In   a   somewhat  pointed 

149 


Dialstone  Lane 

manner    she    called    her    uncle's    attention    to    the 
fact. 

"  Lor'  bless  my  soul,"  said  that  startled  mariner, 
♦'so  it  is.     Well!  well!" 

If  Mr.  Tredgold  had  been  advancing  on  his  head 
he  could  not  have  exhibited  more  surprise. 

*'  I'm  afraid  I'm  late,"  said  Tredgold,  as  he  came 
up  and  shook  hands.  "  I  hope  you  haven't  been 
waiting  long." 

The  hapless  captain  coughed  loud  and  long.  He 
emerged  from  a  large  red  pocket-handkerchief  to 
find  the  eye  of  Miss  Drewitt  seeking  his. 

"  That's  all  right,  my  lad,"  he  said,  huskily.  "  I'd 
forgotten  about  our  arrangement.  Did  I  say  this 
Sunday  or  next?  " 

"  This,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  bluntly. 

The  captain  coughed  again,  and  with  some  pathos 
referred  to  the  tricks  which  old  age  plays  with  mem- 
ory. As  they  Avalked  on  he  regaled  them  with 
selected  instances. 

"  Don't  forget  your  leg,  uncle,"  said  Miss  Drew- 
itt, softly. 

Captain  Bowers  gazed  at  her  suspiciously. 

"  Don't  forget  that  it's  stiff  and  put  too  much 
strain  on  it,"  explained  his  niece. 

The  captain  eyed  her  uneasily,  but  she  was  talk- 
ing and  laughing  with  Edward  Tredgold  in  a  most 
reassuring   fashion.      A   choice   portion   of   his  pro- 

150 


Dialstone  Lane 

^ramme,  which,  owing  to  the  events  of  the  after- 
noon, he  had  almost  resolved  to  omit,  clamoured 
for  production.  He  stole  another  glance  at  his 
niece  and  resolved  to  rislc  it. 

"  Hah !  "  he  said,  suddenly,  stopping  short  and 
feeling  in  his  pockets.  "  There's  my  memory  again. 
Well,  of  all  the " 

"What's  the  matter,  uncle?"  inquired  Miss 
Drewitt. 

"  I've  left  my  pipe  at  home,"  said  the  captain,  in 
a  desperate  voice. 

"  I've  got  some  cigars,"  suggested  Tredgold. 

The  captain  shook  his  head.  "  No,  I  must  have 
my  pipe,"  he  said,  decidedly.  "  If  you  two  will 
walk  on  slowly,  I'll  soon  catch  you  up." 

*'  You're  not  going  all  the  way  back  for  It?  "  ex- 
claimed Miss  Drewitt- 

'*  Let  me  go,"  said  Tredgold. 

The  captain  favoured  him  with  an  inscrutable 
glance.  "  I'll  go,"  he  said,  firmly.  "  I'm  not  quite 
sure  where  I  left  it.  You  go  by  Hanger's  Lane; 
I'll  soon  catch  you  up." 

He  set  off  at  a  pace  which  rendered  protest  un- 
availing. Mr.  Tredgold  turned,  and,  making  a 
mental  note  of  the  fact  that  Miss  Drewitt  had  sud- 
denly added  inches  to  her  stature,  walked  on  by 
her  side. 

"  Captain  Bowers  Is  very  fond  of  his  pipe,"  he 

151 


Dialstone  Lane 

said,  after  they  had  walked  a  little  way  in 
silence. 

Miss  Drewitt  assented.  *'  Nasty  things,"  she  said, 
calmly. 

"  So  they  are,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold. 

"  But  you  smoke,"  said  the  girl. 

Mr.  Tredgold  sighed.  "  I  have  often  thought 
of  giving  it  up,"  he  said,  softly,  "  and  then  I  was 
afraid  that  it  would  look  rather  presumptuous." 

"  Presumptuous?  "  repeated  Miss  Drewitt. 

"  So  many  better  and  wiser  men  than  myself 
smoke,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Tredgold,  "  including  even 
bishops.  If  it  is  good  enough  for  them,  it  ought  to 
be  good  enough  for  me;  that's  the  way  I  look  at  it. 
Who  am  I.  that  I  should  be  too  proud  to  smoke? 
Who  am  I  that  I  should  try  and  set  my  poor  ideas 
above  those  of  my  superiors?  Do  you  see  my  point 
of  view?  " 

Miss  Drewitt  made  no  reply. 

*'  Of  course.  It  is  a  thing  that  grows  on  one,"  con- 
tinued Mr.  Tredgold,  with  the  air  of  making  a  con- 
cession. "It  is  the  first  smoke  that  does  the  mis- 
chief; it  is  a  fatal  precedent.     Unless,  perhaps 

How  pretty  that  field  Is  over  there." 

Miss  Drewitt  looked  In  the  direction  indicated. 
"  Very  nice,"  she  said,  briefly.  *'  But  what  were 
you  going  to  say?  " 

Mr.  Tredgold  made  an  elaborate  attempt  to 
152 


Dialstone  Lane 

appear  confused.  "  I  was  going  to  say,"  he  mur- 
mured, gently,  "  unless,  perhaps,  one  begins  on 
coarse-cut  Cavendish  rolled  in  a  piece  of  the  margin 
of  the  Sunday  newspaper." 

Miss  Drewitt  suppressed  an  exclamation.  "  I 
wanted  to  see  where  the  fascination  was,"  she  said, 
indignantly. 

"And  did  you?"  inquired  Mr.  Tredgold, 
smoothly. 

The  girl  turned  her  head  and  looked  at  him.  "  I 
have  no  doubt  my  uncle  gave  you  full  particulars," 
she  said,  bitterly.  "  It  seems  to  me  that  men  can 
gossip  as  much  as  women." 

"  I  tried  to  stop  him,"  said  the  vi/tuous  Mr. 
Tredgold. 

"  You  need  not  have  troubled,"  said  Miss  Drew- 
itt, loftily.  "  It  is  not  a  matter  of  any  consequence. 
I  am  surprised  that  my  uncle  should  have  thought 
it  worth  mentioning." 

She  walked  on  slowly  with  head  erect,  pausing 
occasionally  to  look  round  for  the  captain.  Edward 
Tredgold  looked  too,  and  a  feelinf^  of  annoyance 
at  the  childish  stratagems  of  his  well-meaning  friend 
began  to  possess  him. 

"  We  had  better  hurrv  a  little,  I  think,"  he  said, 
glancing  at  the  sky.  "  The  sooner  we  get  to  Dutton 
Priors  the  better." 

"Why?"  inquired  his  companion. 
153 


Dialstone   Lane 

"  Rain,"  said  the  other,  briefly. 

*'  It  won't  rain  before  evening,"  said  Miss  Drew- 
itt,  confidently;  "uncle  said  so." 

"  Perhaps  we  had  better  walk  faster,  though," 
urged  Mr.  Tredgoid. 

Miss  Drewitt  slackened  her  pace  deliberately. 
"  There  is  no  fear  of  its  raining,"  she  declared. 
**  And  uncle  will  not  catch  us  up  if  we  walk  fast." 

A  sudden  glimpse  into  the  immediate  future 
was  vouchsafed  to  Mr.  Tredgoid;  for  a  fraction 
of  a  second  the  veil  was  lifted.  "  Don't  blame 
me  if  you  get  wet  through,"  he  said,  with  some 
anxiety. 

They  walked  on  at  a  pace  which  gave  the  captain 
every  opportunity  of  overtaking  them.  The  feat 
would  not  have  been  beyond  the  powers  of  an  ath- 
letic tortoise,  but  the  most  careful  scrutiny  failed  to 
reveal  any  signs  of  him. 

"  I'm  afraid  that  he  is  not  well,"  said  Miss  Drew- 
itt, after  a  long,  searching  glance  along  the  way 
they  had  come.  "  Perhaps  we  had  better  go  back. 
It  does  begin  to  look  rather  dark." 

"  Just  as  you  please,"  said  Edward  Tredgoid, 
with  unwonted  caution;  "but  the  nearest  shelter  is 
Dutton  Priors." 

He  pointed  to  a  lurid,  ragged  cloud  right  ahead 
of  them.  As  if  in  response,  a  low,  growhng  rumble 
sounded  overhead. 

154 


Dialstone   Lane 

"Was — was  that  thunder?"  said  Miss  Drewitt, 
drawing  a  little  nearer  to  him. 

*'  Sounded  something  like  it,"  was  the  reply. 

A  flash  of  lightning  and  a  crashing  peal  that  rent 
the  skies  put  the  matter  beyond  a  doubt.  Miss 
Drewitt,  turning  very  pale,  began  to  walk  at  a  rapid 
pace  in  the  direction  of  the  village. 

The  other  looked  round  in  search  of  some  nearer 
shelter.  Already  the  pattering  of  heavy  drops 
sounded  in  the  lane,  and  before  they  had  gone  a 
dozen  paces  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents.  Two 
or  three  fields  away  a  small  shed  offered  the  only 
shelter.  Mr.  Tredgold,  taking  his  companion  by 
the  arm,  started  to  run  towards  it. 

Before  they  had  gone  a  hundred  yards  they  were 
wet  through,  but  Miss  Drewitt,  holding  her  skirts 
in  one  hand  and  shivering  at  every  flash,  ran  until 
they  brought  up  at  a  tall  gate,  ornamented  with 
barbed  wire,  behind  which  stood  the  shed. 

The  gate  was  locked,  and  the  wire  had  been  put 
on  by  a  farmer  who  combined  with  great  ingenuity 
a  fervent  hatred  of  his  fellow-men.  To  Miss  Drew- 
itt it  seemed  insurmountable,  but,  aided  by  Mr. 
Tredgold  and  a  peal  of  thunder  which  came  to  his 
assistance  at  a  critical  moment,  she  managed  to  clam- 
ber over  and  reach  the  shed.  Mr.  Tredgold  fol- 
lowed at  his  leisure  with  a  strip  of  braid  torn  from 
the  bottom  of  her  dress. 

155 


Dialstone  Lane 

The  roof  leaked  in  twenty  places  and  the  floor 
was  a  puddle,  but  it  had  certain  redeeming  features 
in  Mr.  Tredgold's  eyes  of  which  the  girl  knew  noth- 
ing.    He  stood  at  the  doorway  watching  the  rain. 


"  Aided  by  Mr.  Tredgold  and  a  peal  of  thunder,  she  managed  to  clamber  over." 

"  Come  inside,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  in  a  trembling 
voice.     *'  You  might  be  struck." 

Mr.  Tredgold  experienced  a  sudden  sense  of  sol- 
emn pleasure  in  this  unexpected  concern  for  his 
safety.     He  turned  and  eyed  her. 

"  I'm  not  afraid,"  he  said,  with  great  gentleness. 
156 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  No,  but  I  am,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  petulantly, 
*'  and  I  can  never  get  over  that  gate  alone." 

Mr.  Tredgold  came  inside,  and  for  some  time 
neither  of  them  spoke.  The  rattle  of  rain  on  the 
roof  became  less  deafening  and  began  to  drip 
through  instead  of  forming  little  jets.  A  patch  of 
blue  sky  showed. 

"  It  isn't  much,"  said  Tredgold,  going  to  the  door 
again. 

Miss  Drewitt,  checking  a  sharp  retort,  returned 
to  the  door  and  looked  out.  The  patch  of  blue 
increased  in  size;  the  rain  ceased  and  the  sun  came 
out;  birds  exchanged  congratulations  from  every 
tree.  The  girl,  gathering  up  her  wet  skirts, 
walked  to  the  gate,  leaving  her  companion  to 
follow. 

Approached  calmly  and  under  a  fair  sky  the  climb 
was  much  easier. 

"  I  believe  that  I  could  have  got  over  by  myself 
after  all,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  as  she  stood  on  the 
other  side.  "  I  suppose  that  you  were  in  too  much 
of  a  hurry  the  last  time.      My  dress  is  ruined." 

She  spoke  calmly,  but  her  face  was  clouded. 
From  her  manner  during  the  rapid  walk  home  Mr. 
Tredgold  was  enabled  to  see  clearly  that  she  was 
holding  him  responsible  for  the  captain's  awkward 
behaviour;  the  rain;  her  spoiled  clothes;  and  a  severe 
cold  In  the  immediate  future.     He  glanced  at  her 

157 


Dialstone  Lane 

ruined  hat  and  the  wet,  straight  locks  of  hair  hang- 
ing about  her  face,  and  held  hii  peace. 

Never  before  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  had  Miss 
Drewitt  known  the  streets  of  Binchester  to  be  so 
full  of  people.  She  hurried  on  with  bent  head, 
looking  straight  before  her,  trying  to  imagine  what 
she  looked  like.  There  was  no  sign  of  the  captain, 
but  as  they  turned  into  Dialstone  Lane  they  both 
saw  a  huge,  shaggy,  grey  head  protruding  from 
the  small  window  of  his  bedroom.  It  disappeared 
with  a  suddenness  almost  startling. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  holding  out 
her  hand  as  she  reached  the  door,     "  Good-bye." 

Mr.  Tredgold  said  "  Good-bye,"  and  with  a  fur- 
tive glance  at  the  window  above  departed.  Miss 
Drewitt,  opening  the  door,  looked  round  an  empty 
room.  Then  the  kitchen  door  opened  and  the  face 
of  Mr.  Tasker,  full  of  concern,  appeared. 

"  Did  you  get  wet,  miss?  "  he  inquired. 

Miss  Drewitt  ignored  the  question.  "  Where  is 
Captain  Bowers?  "  she  asked,  in  a  clear,  penetrating 
voice. 

The  face  of  Mr.  Tasker  fell.  "  He's  gone  to 
bed  with  a  headache,  miss,"  he  replied. 

"Headache?"  repeated  the  astonished  Miss 
Drewitt.      "When   did  he  go?" 

"About  'arf  an  hour  ago,"  said  Mr.  Tasker; 
"  just  after  the  storm.     I  suppose  that's  what  caused 

158 


Dialstone   Lane 

It,   though  it  seems   funny,   considering  what  a   lot 
he  must  ha'  seen  at  sea.     He  said  he'd  go  straight. 


*•  She  threw  herself  thoughtlessly  into  that  famous  old  Chippendale  chair." 

to  bed  and  try  and  sleep  it  off.     And  I  was  to  ask 
you  to  please  not  to  make  a  noise." 

Miss  Drewitt  swept  past  him  and  mounted  the 
stairs.  At  the  captain's  door  she  paused,  but  the 
loud  snoring  of  a  determined  man  made  her  resolve 
to  postpone  her  demands  for  an  explanation  to  a 

^59 


Dialstone  Lane 

more  fitting  opportunity.  Tired,  wet,  and  angry 
she  gained  her  own  room,  and  threw  herself  thought- 
lessly into  that  famous  old  Chippendale  chair  which, 
in  accordance  with  Mr.  Tredgold's  instructions,  had 
been  placed  against  the  wall. 
The  captain  star<:e4  m  his  sleep. 


i6o 


CHAPTER    XI 

MR.  CHALK'S  anxiety  during  the  negotia- 
tions for  the  purchase  of  the  Fair  Emily 
kept  him  oscillating  between  Tredgold 
and  Stobell  until  those  gentlemen  fled  at  his  approach 
and  instructed  their  retainers  to  make  untruthful 
statements  as  to  their  whereabouts.  Daily  letters 
from  Captain  Brisket  stated  that  he  was  still  hag- 
gling with  Mr.  Todd  over  the  price,  and  Mr.  Chalk 
quailed  as  he  tried  to  picture  the  scene  with  that 
doughty  champion. 

Three  times  at  the  earnest  instigation  of  his 
friends,  who  pointed  out  the  necessity  of  keeping  up 
appearances,  had  he  set  out  to  pay  a  visit  to  Dial- 
stone  Lane,  and  three  times  had  he  turned  back 
half-way  as  he  realized  the  difficult  nature  of  his 
task.  As  well  ask  a  poacher  to  call  on  a  gamekeeper 
the  morning  after  a  raid. 

Captain  Bowers,  anxious  to  see  him  and  sound 
him  with  a  few  carefully-prepared  questions,  noted 
his  continued  absence  with  regret.  Despairing  at 
last  of  a  visit  from  Mr.  Chalk,  he  resolved  to  pay 
one  himself. 

Mr.  Chalk,  who  was  listening  to  his  wife,  rose 
i6i 


Dialstone  Lane 

hastily  at  his  entrance,  and  in  great  confusion  in- 
vited him  to  a  chair  which  was  already  occupied  by 
Mrs.  Chalk's  work-basket.  The  captain  took  an- 
other and,  after  listening  to  an  incoherent  statement 


"Instructed  their  retainers  to  make  untruthful  statements  as  to  their  whereabouts.' 


about  the  weather,  shook  his  head  reproachfully  at 
Mr.  Chalk. 

"  I  thought  something  must  have  happened  to 
you,"  he  said.  "  Why,  it  must  be  weeks  since  I've 
seen  you." 

"Weeks?"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  suddenly  alert. 
162 


Dialstone  Lane 

**  Why,  he  went  out  the  day  before  yesterday  to  call 
on  you." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  with  an  effort,  "  so  I  did, 
but  half-way  to  yours  I  got  a  nail  in  my  shoe  and 
had  to  come  home." 

'*  Home!  "  exclaimed  his  wife.  "  Why,  you  were 
gone  two  hours  and  thirty-five  minutes." 

"  It  was  very  painful,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  as  the 
captain  stared  in  open-eyed  astonishment  at  this 
exact  time-keeping.  "  One  time  I  thought  that  I 
should  hardly  have  got  back." 

"  But  you  didn't  say  anything  about  it,"  persisted 
his  wife. 

"  I  didn't  want  to  alarm  you,  my  dear,"  said  Mr. 
Chalk. 

Mrs.  Chalk  looked  at  him,  but,  except  for  a  long, 
shivering  sigh  which  the  visitor  took  for  sympathy, 
made  no  comment. 

"  I  often  think  that  I  must  have  missed  a  great 
deal  by  keeping  single,"  said  the  latter.  "  It  must 
be  very  pleasant  when  you're  away  to  know  that 
there  is  somebody  at  home  counting  the  minutes 
until  your  return." 

Mr,  Chalk  permitted  himself  one  brief  wonder- 
ing glance  in  the  speaker's  direction,  and  then  gazed 
out  of  window. 

"  There's  no  companion  like  a  wife,"  continued 
the   captain.      "  Nobody  else   can   quite  share   your 

163 


Dialstone   Lane 

joys  and  sorrows  as  she  can.  I've  often  thought 
how  pleasant  it  must  be  to  come  home  from  a  jour- 
ney and  tell  your  wife  all  about  it:  where  you've 
been,  what  you've  done,  and  what  you're  going 
to  do." 

Mr.  Chalk  stole  another  look  at  him;  Mrs.  Chalk, 
somewhat  suspicious,  followed  his  example. 

"  It's  a  pity  you  never  married,  Captain  Bowers," 
she  said,  at  length;  "  most  men  seem  to  do  all  they 
can  to  keep  things  from  their  wives.  But  one  of 
these  days " 

She  finished  the  sentence  by  an  expressive  glance 
at  her  husband.  Captain  Bowers,  suddenly  enlight- 
ened, hastened  to  change  the  subject. 

"  I  haven't  seen  Tredgold  or  Stobell  either,"  he 
said,  gazing  fixedly  at  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  They — they  were  talking  about  you  only  the 
other  day,"  said  that  gentleman,  nervously.  "  Is 
Miss  Drewitt  well?  " 

"  Quite  well,"  said  the  captain,  briefly.  "  I  was 
beginning  to  think  you  had  all  left  Binchester,"  he 
continued;  "  gone  for  a  sea  voyage  or  something." 

Mr.  Chalk  laughed  uneasily.  "  I  thought  that 
Joseph  wasn't  looking  very  well  the  last  time  I  saw 
you,"  he  said,  with  an  imploring  glance  at  the  cap- 
tain to  remind  him  of  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Chalk. 

"  Joseph's  all  right,"  replied  the  other,  "  so  is  the 
parrot." 

164 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Chalk  started  and  said  that  he  was  glad  to 
hear  it,  and  sat  trying  to  think  of  a  safe  subject  for 
conversation. 

"  Joseph's  a  nice  parrot,"  he  said  at  last.  "  The 
parrot's  a  nice  lad,  I  mean." 

"Thomas!"  said  Mrs.  Chalk. 

"  Joseph — is— a — nice — lad,"  said  Mr.  Chalk, 
recovering  himself.     "  I  have  often  thought " 

The  sentence  was  never  completed,  being  inter- 
rupted by  a  thundering  rat-tat-tat  at  the  front  door, 
followed  by  a  pealing  at  the  bell,  which  indicated 
that  the  visitor  was  manfully  following  the  printed 
injunction  to  "  Ring  also."  The  door  was  opened 
and  a  man's  voice  was  heard  in  the  hall — a  loud, 
confident  voice,  at  the  sound  of  which  Mr.  Chalk, 
with  one  horrified  glance  in  the  direction  of  Captain 
Bowers,  sank  back  in  his  chair  and  held  his  breath. 

"  Captain  Brisket,"  said  the  maid,  opening  the 
door. 

The  captain  came  in  with  a  light,  bustling  step, 
and,  having  shaken  Mr.  Chalk's  hand  with  great 
fervour  and  acknowledged  the  presence  of  Captain 
Bowers  and  Mrs.  Chalk  by  two  spasmodic  jerks  of 
the  head,  sat  bolt-upright  on  the  edge  of  a  chair  and 
beamed  brightly  upon  the  horrified  Chalk. 

"  I've  got  news,"  he  said,  hoarsely. 

"News?"  said  the  unfortunate  Mr.  Chalk, 
faintly. 

165 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Ah !  "  said  Brisket,  nodding.  "  News  I  I've 
got  her  at  last." 

Mrs.  Chalk  started. 

**  I've  got  her,"  continued  Captain  Brisket,  with 
an  air  of  great  enjoyment;  "and  a  fine  job  I  had 
of  it,  I  can  tell  you.  Old  Todd  said  he  couldn't 
bear  parting  with  her.  Once  or  twice  I  thought  he 
meant  it." 

Mr.  Chalk  made  a  desperate  effort  to  catch  his 
eye,  but  in  vain.  It  was  fixed  in  reminiscent  joy  on 
the  ceiling. 

"  We  haggled  about  her  for  days,"  continued 
Brisket;  "but  at  last  I  won.  The  Fair  Emily  is 
yours,  sir." 

"  The  fair  who?  "  cried  Mrs.  Chalk,  in  a  terri- 
ble voice.     "  Emily  who?     Emily  what?  " 

Captain  Brisket  turned  and  regarded  her  in 
amazement. 

"  Emily  who?  "  repeated  Mrs.  Chalk. 

"  Why,  it's "  began  Brisket. 

''H'shf'  said  Mr.  Chalk,  desperately.  "It's  a 
secret." 

"  It's  a  secret,"  said  Captain  Brisket,  nodding 
calmly  at  Mrs.  Chalk. 

Wrath  and  astonishment  held  her  for  the  moment 
breathless.  Mr.  Chalk,  caught  between  his  wife 
and  Captain  Bowers,  fortified  himself  with  mem- 
ories of  the  early  martyrs  and  gave  another  warning 

166 


Dialstone  Lane 

glance  at  Brisket.  For  nearly  two  minutes  that  un- 
daunted mariner  met  the  gaze  of  Mrs.  Chalk  with- 
out flinching. 

"  A — a  secret?  "  gasped  the  indignant  woman  at 
last,  as  she  turned  to  her  husband.  "  You  sit  there 
and  dare  to  tell  me  that?  " 

"  It  isn't  my  secret,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  *'  else  I 
should  tell  you  at  once." 

"  It  isn't  his  secret,"  said  the  complaisant  Brisket. 

Mrs.  Chalk  controlled  herself  by  a  great  effort 
and,  turning  to  Captain  Brisket,  addressed  him 
almost  calmly.  "  Was  it  Emily  that  came  whist- 
ling over  the  garden-wall  the  other  night?  "  she 
inquired. 

"  JVhis ?  "  said  the  hapless  Brisket,  making 

a  noble  effort.  He  finished  the  word  with  a  cough 
and  gazed  with  protruding  eyes  at  Mr.  Chalk.  The 
appearance  of  that  gentleman  sobered  him  at  once. 

"  No,"  he  said,  slowly. 

"  How  do  you  know?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Chalk. 

"  Because  she  can't  whistle,"  replied  Captain 
Brisket,  feeling  his  way  carefully.  *'  And  what's 
more,  she  wouldn't  if  she  could.  She's  been  too 
well  brought  up  for  that." 

He  gave  a  cunning  smile  at  Mr.  Chalk,  to  which 
that  gentleman,  having  decided  at  all  hazards  to 
keep  the  secret  from  Captain  Bowers,  made  a  ghastly 
response,  and  nodded  to  him  to  proceed. 

167 


Dialstone  Lane 

"What's  she  got  to  do  with  my  husband?"  de- 
manded Mrs.  Chalk,  her  voice  rising  despite  her- 
self. 

"  I'm  coming  to  that,"  said  Brisket,  thoughtfully, 
as  he  gazed  at  the  floor  in  all  the  agonies  of  com- 
position; "Mr.  Chalk  is  trying  to  get  her  a  new 
place," 

"New  place?"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  in  a  choking 
voice. 

Captain  Brisket  nodded.  "  She  ain't  happy  where 
she  Is,"  he  explained,  "  and  Mr.  Chalk — out  o'  pure 
good-nature  and  kindness  of  heart — is  trying  to  get 
her  another,  and  I  honour  him  for  it." 

He  looked  round  triumphantly.  Mr.  Chalk,  sit- 
ting open-mouthed,  was  regarding  him  with  the  fas- 
cinated gaze  of  a  rabbit  before  a  boa-constrictor. 
Captain  Bowers  was  listening  with  an  appearance  of 
interest  which  in  more  favourable  circumstances 
would  have  been  very  flattering. 

"  You  said,"  cried  Mrs.  Chalk — "  you  said  to  my 
husband:  '  The  fair  Emily  is  yours.'  " 

"  So  I  did,"  said  Brisket,  anxiously — "  so  I  did. 
And  what  I  say  I  stick  to.  When  I  said  that  the — 
that  Emily  was  his,  I  meant  it.  I  don't  say  things 
I  don't  mean.     That  isn't  Bill  Brisket's  way." 

"  And  you  said  just  now  that  he  was  getting  her 
a  place,"  Mrs.  Chalk  reminded  him,  grimly. 

"  Mr.  Chalk  understands  what  I  mean,"  said  Cap- 
i68 


Dialstone  Lane 

tain  Brisket,  with  dignity.     "  When  I  said  *  She  Is 
yours,'  I  meant  that  she  is  coming  here." 

"O-oh!"  said  Mrs.   Chalk,  breathlessly.     "Oh, 
indeed!     Oh,  is  she?  " 


"  You  said  to  my  husband  :   'The  fair  Emily  is  yours.'  " 

"  That  is,  if  her  mother'll  let  her  come,"  pur- 
sued the  enterprising  Brisket,  with  a  look  of  great 
artfulness  at  Mr.  Chalk,  to  call  his  attention  to  the 
bridge  he  was  building  for  him;  "  but  the  old  wom- 
an's been  laid  up  lately  and  talks  about  not  being 
able  to  spare  her." 

169 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mrs.  Chalk  sat  back  helplessly  in  her  chair  and 
gazed  from  her  husband  to  Captain  Brisket,  and 
from  Captain  Brisket  back  to  her  husband.  Captain 
Brisket,  red-faced  and  confident,  sat  upright  on  the 
edge  of  his  chair  as  though  inviting  inspection;  Mr. 
Chalk  plucked  nervously  at  his  fingers.  Captain 
Bowers  suddenly  broke  silence. 

"What's  her  tonnage?"  he  Inquired  abruptly, 
turning  to  Brisket. 

"  Two  hundred  and  for " 

Captain  Brisket  stopped  dead  and,  rubbing  his 
nose  hard  with  his  forefinger,  gazed  thoughtfully  at 
Captain  Bowers. 

"  The  Fair  Emily  is  a  ship,"  said  the  latter  to 
Mrs.  Chalk. 

"  A  ship!  "  cried  the  bewildered  woman.  "  A 
ship  living  with  her  invalid  mother  and  coming  to 
my  husband  to  get  her  a  place !  Are  you  trying  to 
screen  him,  too?  " 

"  It's  a  ship,"  repeated  Captain  Bowers,  sternly, 
as  he  sought  in  vain  to  meet  the  eye  of  Mr.  Chalk; 
*'  a  craft  of  two  hundred  and  something  tons.  For 
some  reason — best  known  to  himself — Mr.  Chalk 
wants  the  matter  kept  secret." 

"  It — it  isn't  my  secret,"  faltered  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  Where's  she  lying?  "  said  Captain  Bowers. 

Mr.  Chalk  hesitated.  "  Biddlecombe,"  he  said, 
at  last. 

170 


Dialstone  Lane 

Captain  Brisket  laughed  noisily  and,  smacking 
his  leg  with  his  open  hand,  smiled  broadly  upon  the 
company.  No  response  being  forthcoming,  he 
laughed  again  for  his  own  edification,  and  sat  good- 
humouredly  waiting  events. 

"  Is  this  true,  Thomas?  "  demanded  Mrs.  Chalk. 

"  Yes,  my  dear,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Then  why  didn't  you  tell  me,  instead  of  sitting 
there  listening  to  a  string  of  falsehoods?  " 

"  I — I  wanted  to  give  you  a  surprise — a  pleas- 
ant little  surprise,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  with  a  timid 
glance  at  Captain  Bowers.  "  I  have  bought  a  share 
in  a  schooner,  to  go  for  a  little  cruise.  Just  a  jaunt 
for  pleasure." 

"  Tredgold,  Stobell,  and  Chalk,"  said  Captain 
Bowers,  very  distinctly. 

"  I  wanted  to  keep  it  secret  until  it  had  been  re- 
painted and  done  up,"  continued  Mr.  Chalk,  watch- 
ing his  wife's  face  anxiously,  "  and  then  Captain 
Brisket  came  in  and  spoilt  it." 

"  That's  me,  ma'am,"  said  the  gentleman  men- 
tioned, shaking  his  head  despairingly.  *'  That's  Bill 
Brisket  all  over.  I  come  blundering  in,  and  the 
first  thing  I  do  is  to  blurt  out  secrets;  then,  when 
I  try  to  smooth  it  over " 

Mrs.  Chalk  paid  no  heed.  Alluding  to  the 
schooner  as  "  our  yacht,"  she  at  once  began  to  dis- 
cuss the  subject  of  the  voyage,  the  dresses  she  would 

171 


Dialstone   Lane 

require,  and  the  rival  merits  of  shutting  the  house 
up  or  putting  the  servants  on  board  wages.     Under 


"  The  captain  walked  home  deep  in  thought." 

her  skilful  hands,  aided  by  a  few  suggestions  of  Cap- 
tain Brisket's,  the  Fair  Emily  was  in  the  short  space 
of  twenty  minutes  transformed  into  one  of  the  most 

172 


Dialstone  Lane 

luxurious  yachts  that  ever  sailed  the  seas.  Mr. 
Chalk's  heart  failed  him  as  he  listened.  His  thoughts 
were  with  his  partners  In  the  enterprise,  and  he  trem- 
bled as  he  thought  of  their  comments. 

"  It  will  do  Mrs.  Stobell  a  lot  of  good,"  said  his 
wife,  suddenly. 

Mr.  Chalk,  about  to  speak,  checked  himself  and 
blew  his  nose  Instead.  The  romance  of  the  affair 
was  beginning  to  evaporate.  He  sat  In  a  state  of 
great  dejection,  until  Captain  Bowers,  having  learned 
far  more  than  he  had  anticipated,  shook  hands  with 
Impressive  gravity  and  took  his  departure. 

The  captain  walked  home  deep  In  thought,  with 
a  prolonged  stare  at  the  windows  of  Tredgold's  office 
as  he  passed.  The  present  whereabouts  of  the  map 
was  now  quite  clear,  and  at  the  top  of  Dialstone 
Lane  he  stopped  and  put  his  hand  to  his  brow  In 
consternation,  as  he  thought  of  the  elaborate  expe- 
dition that  was  being  fitted  out  for  the  recovery  of 
the  treasure. 

Prudence,  who  was  sitting  In  the  window  reading, 
looked  up  at  his  entrance  and  smiled. 

"  Edward  Tredgold  has  been  in  to  see  you,"  she 
remarked. 

The  captain  nodded.  "Couldn't  he  stop?"  he 
inquired. 

"I  don't  know,"  said  his  niece;  "I  didn't  see 
him.     I  was  upstairs  when  he  came." 

173 


Dialstone  Lane 

Captain  Bowers  looked  perturbed.  "  Didn't  you 
come  down?  "  he  inquired. 

"  I  sent  down  word  that  I  had  a  headache,"  said 
Miss  Drewitt,  carelessly. 

Despite  his  sixty  odd  years  the  captain  turned  a 
little  bit  pink.  "  I  hope  you  are  better  now,"  he 
said,  at  last. 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  his  niece;  "it  wasn't  very  bad. 
It's  strange  that  I  should  have  a  headache  so  soon 
after  you ;  looks  as  though  they're  in  the  family, 
doesn't  it?  " 

Somewhat  to  the  captain's  relief  she  took  up  her 
book  again  without  waiting  for  a  reply,  and  sat  read- 
ing until  Mr.  Tasker  brought  in  the  tea.  The 
captain,  who  was  in  a  very  thoughtful  mood,  drank 
cup  after  cup  in  silence,  and  it  was  not  until  the  meal 
was  cleared  away  and  he  had  had  a  few  soothing 
whiffs  at  his  pipe  that  he  narrated  the  events  of  the 
afternoon. 

*'  There  I  "  said  Prudence,  her  eyes  sparkling  with 
indignation.  "What  did  I  say?  Didn't  I  tell  you 
that  those  three  people  would  be  taking  a  holiday 
soon?  The  idea  of  Mr.  Tredgold  venturing  to 
come  round  here  this  afternoon!  " 

"  He  knows  nothing  about  it,"  protested  the  cap- 
tain. 

Miss  Drewitt  shook  her  head  obstinately.  "  We 
shall  see,"  she  remarked.     "  The  idea  of  those  men 

174 


Dialstone  Lane 

going  after  your  treasure  after  you  had  said  it 
wasn't  to  be  touched !  Why,  it's  perfectly  dishon- 
est! " 

The  captain  blew  a  cloud  of  smoke  from  his 
mouth  and  watched  it  disperse.  "  Perhaps  they 
won't  find  it,"  he  murmured. 

"  They'll  find  it,"  said  his  niece,  confidently. 
"Why  shouldn't  they?  This  Captain  Brisket  will 
find  the  island,  and  the  rest  will  be  easy." 

"  They  might  not  find  the  island,"  said  the  cap- 
tain, blowing  a  cloud  so  dense  that  his  face  was 
almost  hidden.  "  Some  of  these  little  islands  have 
been  known  to  disappear  quite  suddenly.  Volcanic 
action,  you  know.  What  are  you  smiling  at?  "  he 
added,  sharply. 

"  Thoughts,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  clasping  her 
hands  round  her  knee  and  smiling  again.  "  I  was 
thinking  how  odd  it  would  be  if  the  island  sank 
just  as  they  landed  upon  it." 


■17s 


CHAPTER    XII 

MR.  CHALK,  when  half-awake  next  morn- 
ing, tried  to  remember  Mr.  Stobell's  re- 
marks of  the  night  before;  fully  awake, 
he  tried  to  forget  them.  He  remembered,  too,  with 
a  pang  that  Tredgold  had  been  content  to  enact  the 
part  of  a  listener,  and  had  made  no  attempt  to 
check  the  somewhat  unusual  fluency  of  the  aggrieved 
Mr.  Stobell.  The  latter's  last  instructions  were 
that  Mrs.  Chalk  was  to  be  told,  without  loss  of 
time,  that  her  presence  on  the  schooner  was  not  to 
be  thought  of. 

With  all  this  on  his  mind  Mr.  Chalk  made  but  a 
poor  breakfast,  and  his  appetite  was  not  improved 
by  his  wife's  enthusiastic  remarks  concerning  the 
voyage.  Breakfast  over,  she  dispatched  a  note  to 
Mrs.  Stobell  by  the  housemaid,  with  instructions 
to  wait  for  a  reply.  Altogether  six  notes  passed 
during  the  morning,  and  Mr.  Chalk,  who  hazarded 
a  fair  notion  as  to  their  contents,  became  correspond- 
ingly gloomy. 

"  We're  to  go  up  there  at  five,"  said  his  wife, 
after  reading  the  last  note.     "  Mr.  Stobell  will  be  at 

176 


Dialstone  Lane 


tea  at  that  time,  and  we're  to  drop  in  as  though  by 
accident," 

"What  for?"  inquired  Mr.  Chalk,  affecting  sur- 
prise.    "  Go  up  where?  " 

"To  talk  to  Mr. 
Stobell,"  said  his  wife, 
grimly.  "  Fancy,  poor 
Mrs.  Stobell  says  that 
she  is  sure  he  won't 
let  her  come.  I  wish 
he  was  my  husband, 
that's  all." 

Mr.  Chalk  mut- 
tered something  about 
"  doing  a  little  gar- 
dening." 

"  You  can  do  that 
another  time,"  said 
Mrs.  Chalk,  coldly. 
"  I've  noticed  you've 
been  very  fond  of 
-gardening  lately." 

The  allusion  was 
too  indirect  to  con- 
test, but  Mr.  Chalk 
reddened  despite  himself,  and  his  wife,  after  regard- 
ing his  confusion  with  a  questioning  eye,  left  him  to 
his  own  devices  and  his  conscience. 

177 


"  Mrs.  Sfobell 


Dialstone^  LaiiC 

Mr.  Stobell  and  his  wife  had  just  sat  down  to  tea 
when  they  arrived,  and  Mrs.  Stobell,  rising  from 
behind  a  huge  tea-pot,  gave  a  little  cry  of  surprise 
as  her  friend  entered  the  room,  and  kissed  her  affec- 
tionately. 

"  Well,  who  would  have  thought  of  seeing  you?  " 
she  cried.     "  Sit  down." 

Mrs.  Chalk  sat  down  at  the  large  table  opposite 
Mr.  Stobell;  Mr.  Chalk,  without  glancing  in  his 
wife's  direction,  seated  himself  by  that  gentleman's 
side. 

"Well,  weren't  you  surprised?"  inquired  Mrs. 
Chalk,  loudly,  as  her  hostess  passed  her  a  cup 
of  tea. 

"  Surprised?  "  said  Mrs.  Stobell,  curiously. 

"Why,  hasn't  Mr.  Stobell  told  you?"  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Chalk. 

"Told  me?"  repeated  Mrs.  Stobell,  glancing  in- 
dignantly at  the  wide-open  eyes  of  Mr.  Chalk. 
"Told  me  what?" 

It  was  now  Mrs.  Chalk's  turn  to  appear  sur- 
prised, and  she  did  it  so  well  that  Mr.  Chalk  choked 
in  his  tea-cup.  "  About  the  yachting  trip,"  she  said, 
with  a  glance  at  her  husband  that  made  his  choking 
take  on  a  ventriloquial  effect  of  distance. 

"  He — he  didn't  say  anything  to  me  about  it," 
said  Mrs.  Stobell,  timidly. 

She  glanced  at  her  husband,  but  Mr.  Stobell,  tak- 
178 


Dialstone  Lane 

ing  an  enormous  bite  out  of  a  slice  of  bread  and 
butter,  made  no  sign. 

"  It'll  do  you  a  world  of  good,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk, 
affectionately.  "  It'll  put  a  little  colour  in  your 
cheeks." 

Mrs.  Stobell  flushed.  She  was  a  faded  little 
woryan;  faded  eyes,  faded  hair,  faded  cheeks.  It 
was  even  whispered  that  her  love  for  Mr.  Stobell 
was  beginning  to  fade. 

"  And  I  don't  suppose  you'll  mind  the  seasick- 
ness after  you  get  used  to  it,"  said  the  considerate 
Mr.  Chalk,  "  and  the  storms,  and  the  cyclones,  and 
fogs,  and  collisions,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing." 

"  If  you  can  stand  it,  she  can,"  said  his  wife,  an- 
grily. 

"  But  I  don't  understand,"  said  Mrs.  Stobell, 
appealingly.     "  What  yachting  trip?  " 

Mrs.  Chalk  began  to  explain;  Mr.  Stobell  helped 
himself  to  another  slice,  and,  except  for  a  single 
glance  under  his  heavy  brows  at  Mr.  Chalk,  appeared 
to  be  oblivious  of  his  surroundings. 

"  It  sounds  very  nice,"  said  Mrs.  Stobell,  after  her 
friend  had  finished  her  explanation.  "  Perhaps  it 
might  do  me  good.  I  have  tried  a  great  many 
things." 

"  Mr.  Stobell  ought  to  have  taken  you  for  a  voy- 
age long  before,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  with  conviction. 
*'  Still,  better  late  than  never." 

179 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  The  only  thing  is,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  speaking 
with  an  air  of  great  benevolence,  "  that  if  the  sea 
didn't  suit  Mrs.  Stobell,  she  would  be  unable  to  get 
away  from  it.  And,  of  course,  it  might  upset  her 
very  much." 

Mr.  Stobell  wiped  some  crumbs  from  his  mous- 
tache and  looked  up. 

"  No,  it  won't,"  he  said,  briefly. 

"  Is  she  a  good  sailor?  "  queried  Mr.  Chalk, 
somewhat  astonished  at  such  a  remark  from  that 
quarter. 

"  Don't  know,"  said  Mr.  Stobell,  passing  his  cup 
up.  "  But  this  trip  won't  upset  her — she  ain't 
going." 

Mrs.  Chalk  exclaimed  loudly  and  exchanged 
glances  of  consternation  with  Mrs.  Stobell;  Mr. 
Stobell,  having  explained  the  position,  took  some 
more  bread  and  butter  and  munched  placidly. 

"  Don't  you  think  it  would  do  her  good?  "  said 
Mrs.  Chalk,  at  last. 

"  Might,"  said  Mr.  Stobell,  slowly,  "  and  then, 
again,  it  mightn't." 

"  But  there's  no  harm  in  trying,"  persisted  Mrs. 
Chalk. 

Mr.  Stobell  made  no  reply.  Having  reached  his 
fifth  slice  he  was  now  encouraging  his  appetite  with 
apricot  jam. 

"  And  it's  so  cheap,"  continued  Mrs.  Chalk. 
i8o 


Dialstone   Lane 

"  That's  the  way  I  look  at  it.  If  she  shuts  up  the 
house  and  gets  rid  of  the  servants,  same  as  I  am 
going  to  do,  it  will  save  a  lot  of  money." 

She  glanced  at  Mr.  Stobell,  whose  slowly  work- 
ing jaws  and  knitted  brows  appeared  to  indicate  deep 
thought,  and  then  gave  a  slight  triumphant  nod  at 
his  wife. 

"  Servants  are  so  expensive,"  she  murmured. 
"  Really,  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  we  saved  money 
on  the  whole  affair.  And  then  think  of  her  health. 
She  has  never  quite  recovered  from  that  attack  of 
bronchitis.  She  has  never  looked  the  same  woman 
since.  Think  of  your  feelings  if  anything  happened 
to  her.  Nothing  would  bring  her  back  to  you  if 
once  she  went." 

"Went  where?"  inquired  Mr.  Stobell,  who  was 
not  attending  very  much. 

"  If  she  died,  I  mean,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk, 
shortly. 

"  We've  all  got  to  die  some  day,"  said  the  philo- 
sophic Mr.  Stobell.     "  She's  forty-six." 

Mrs.  Stobell  interposed.  "  Not  till  September, 
Robert,"  she  said,  almost  firmly. 

"  It  wouldn't  be  nice  to  be  buried  at  sea,"  re- 
marked Mr.  Chalk,  contributing  his  mite  to  the 
discussion.  "  Of  course,  it's  very  impressive;  but  to 
be  left  down  there  all  alone  while  the  ship  sails  on 
must  be  very  hard." 

i8i 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mrs.  Stobell's  eyes  began  to  get  large.  "  I'm 
feeling  quite  well,"  she  gasped. 

*'  Yes,  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  with  a  threatening 
glance  at  her  husband.     "  Of  course,  we  know  that. 


*'  'It  wouldn't  be  nice  to  be  buried  at  sea,'  remarked  Mr.  Chalk." 

But  a  voyage  would  do  you  good.     You  can't  deny 
that." 

Mrs.  Stobell,  fumbling  for  her  handkerchief,  said 
in  a  tremulous  voice  that  she  had  no  wish  to  deny 

182 


Dialstone  Lane 

It.  Mr.  Stobell,  appealed  to  by  the  energetic  Mrs. 
Chalk,  admitted  at  once  that  it  might  do  his  wife 
good,  but  that  it  wouldn't  him. 

"  We're  going  to  be  three  jolly  bachelors,"  he  de- 
clared, and,  first  nudging  Mr.  Chalk  to  attract  his 
attention,    deliberately  winked   at   him. 

"Oh,  indeed!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Chalk,  draw- 
ing herself  up;  "  but  you  forget  that  I  am  coming." 

"  Two  jolly  bachelors,  then,"  said  the  undaunted 
Stobell. 

"  No,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  shaking  her  head,  '*  I 
am  not  going  alone;  if  Mrs.  Stobell  can't  come  I 
would  sooner  stay  at  home." 

Mr.  Stobell's  face  cleared;  his  mouth  relaxed  and 
his  dull  eyes  got  almost  kindly.  With  the  idea  of 
calling  the  attention  of  Mr.  Chalk  to  the  pleasing 
results  of  a  little  firmness  he  placed  his  foot  upon 
that  gentleman's  toe  and  bore  heavily. 

"  Best  place  for  you,"  he  said  to  Mrs.  Chalk. 
*'  There's  no  place  like  home  for  ladies.  You  can 
have  each  other  to  tea  every  day  if  you  like.  In 
fact,  there's  no  reason  " — he  paused  and  looked  at 
his  wife,  half  doubtful  that  he  was  conceding  too 
much — *'  there's  no  reason  why  you  shouldn't  sleep 
at  each  other's  sometimes." 

He  helped  himself  to  some  cake  and,  rendered 
polite  by  good-nature,  offered  some  to  Mrs.  Chalk. 

"  Mind,  I  shall  not  go  unless  Mrs.  Stobell  goes," 
183 


Dialstone  Lane 

said  the  latter,  waving  the  plate  away  Impatiently; 
**  that  I  am  determined  upon." 

Mr.  Chalk,  feeling  that  appearances  required  it, 
ventured  on  a  mild — a  very  mild — remonstrance. 

"  And  he,"  continued  Mrs.  Clialk,  sternly,  indi- 
cating her  husband  with  a  nod,  "  doesn't  go  without 
me — not  a  single  step,  not  an  inch  of  the  way." 

Mr.  Chalk  collapsed  and  sat  staring  at  her  in  dis- 
may. Mr.  Stobell,  placing  both  hands  on  the  table, 
pushed  his  chair  back  and  eyed  her  disagreeably. 

"  It  seems  to  me "  he  began. 

"  I  know,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  speaking  with  some 
rapidity — "  I  know  just  how  it  seems  to  you.  But 
that's  how  It  is.  If  you  want  my  husband  to  go 
you  have  got  to  have  me  too,  and  if  you  have  me 
you  have  got  to  have  your  wife,  and  If " 

"  What,  is  there  any  more  of  you  coming?  "  de- 
manded Mr.  Stobell,  with  great  bitterness. 

Mrs.  Chalk  Ignored  the  question.  "  Aly  hus- 
band wouldn't  be  happy  without  w^,"  she  said, 
primly.     "Would  you,  Thomas?" 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  with  a  gulp. 

*'  We — we're  going  a  long  way,"  said  Mr.  Sto- 
bell, after  a  long  pause. 

"  Longer  the  better,"  retorted  Mrs.  Chalk. 

"  We're  going  among  savages,"  continued  Mr. 
Stobell,  casting  about  for  arguments;  "  cannibal  sav- 
ages." 

184 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  They  won't  eat  her,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  with  a 
passing  glance  at  the  scanty  proportions  of  her 
friend,   "  not  while  you're  about." 

"  I  don't  like  to  take  my  wife  into  danger,"  said 
Mr.  Stobell,  with  surly  bashf ulness ;  "  I'm — I'm  too 
fond  of  her  for  that.  And  she  don't  want  to  come. 
Do  you,  Alice?  " 

"  No,"  said  Mrs.  Stobell,  dutifully,  "  but  I  want 
to  share  your  dangers,  Robert." 

"  Say  '  yes  '  or  '  no  '  without  any  trimmings," 
commanded  her  husband,  as  he  intercepted  a  look 
passing  between  her  and  Mrs.  Chalk.  "  Do — you 
— want — to — come?  " 

Mrs.  Stobell  trembled.  "  I  don't  want  to  pre- 
vent Mr.  Chalk  from  going,"  she  murmured. 

"  Never  mind  about  him,"  said  Mr.  Stobell. 
*'  Do — yoti — want — to — come?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Stobell. 

Her  husband,  hardly  able  to  believe  his  ears,  gazed 
at  her  in  bewilderment.  "  Very  well,  then,"  he  said, 
in  a  voice  that  made  the  tea-cups  rattle.     "  Come  !  " 

He  sat  with  bent  brows  gazing  at  the  table  as 
Mrs.  Chalk,  her  face  wreathed  in  triumphant  smiles, 
began  to  discuss  yachting  costumes  and  other  neces- 
sities of  ocean  travel  with  the  quivering  Mrs.  Sto- 
bell. Unable  to  endure  it  any  longer  he  rose  and, 
in  a  voice  by  no  means  alluring,  invited  Mr.  Chalk 
into  the  garden  to  smoke  a  pipe ;  Mr.  Chalk,  helping 

185 


Dialstone  Lane 

himself  to  two  pieces  of  cake  as  evidence,  said  that 
he  had  not  yet  finished  his  tea.  Owing  partly  to 
lack  of  appetite  and  partly  to  the  face  which  Mr. 
Stobell  pressed  to  the  window  every  other  minute 
to  entice  him  out,  he  made  but  slow  progress. 

The  matter  was  discussed  next  day  as  they  jour- 
neyed down  to  Biddlecombe  with  Mr.  Tredgold  to 
complete  the  purchase  of  the  schooner,  the  views  of 
the  latter  gentleman  coinciding  so  exactly  with  those 
of  Mr.  Stobell  that  Mr.  Chalk  was  compelled  to 
listen  to  the  same  lecture  twice. 

Under  this  infliction  his  spirits  began  to  droop, 
nor  did  they  revive  until,  from  the  ferry-boat,  his 
eyes  fell  upon  the  masts  of  the  Fair  Emily^  and  the 
trim  figure  of  Captain  Brisket  standing  at  the  foot 
of  the  steps  awaiting  their  arrival. 

"  We've  had  a  stroke  of  good  luck,  gentlemen," 
said  Brisket,  in  a  husky  whisper,  as  they  followed 
him  up  the  steps.     "  See  that  man?  " 

He  pointed  to  a  thin,  dismal-looking  man,  stand- 
ing a  yard  or  two  away,  who  was  trying  to  appear 
unconscious  of  their  scrutiny. 

"  Peter  Duckett,"  said  Brisket,  in  the  same  satis- 
fied whisper. 

Mr.  Stobell,  ever  willing  for  a  free  show,  stared 
at  the  dismal  man  and  groped  in  the  recesses  of  his 
memory.     The  name  seemed   familiar. 

"  The  man  who  ate  three  dozen  hard-boiled  eggf 
i86 


Dialstone  Lane 

in  four  minutes?  "  he  asked,  with  a  little  excitement 
natural  in  the  circumstances. 

Captain    Brisket    stared    at    him.      "No;    Peter 
Duckett,  the  finest  mate  that  ever  sailed,"  he  said, 


"  He  pointed  to  a  thin,  dismal-looking  man." 

with  a  flourish.  **  We're  lucky  to  have  the  chance 
of  getting  him,  I  can  tell  you.  To  see  him  handle 
sallormen    is    a    revelation;    to    see    him    handle    a 

ship " 

187 


Dialstone   Lane 

He  broke  off  and  shook  his  head  with  the  air  of 
a  man  who  despaired  of  doing  justice  to  his  subject. 
"  These  are  the  gentlemen,  Peter,"  he  said,  intro- 
ducing them  with  a  wave  of  his  hand. 

Mr.  Duckett  raised  his  cap,  and  tugging  at  a 
small  patch  of  reddish-brown  hair  strangely  resem- 
bling a  door-mat  in  texture,  which  grew  at  the  base 
of  his  chin,  cleared  his  throat  and  said  it  was  a  fine 
morning. 

"  Not  much  of  a  talker  is  Peter,"  said  the  genial 
Brisket.  "  He's  a  doer;  that's  what  he  Is — a  doer. 
Now,  if  you're  willing — and  I  hope  you  are — he'll 
come  aboard  with  us  and  talk  the  matter  over." 

This  proposition  being  assented  to  after  a  little 
delay  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Stobell,  who  appeared  to 
think  Mr.  Duckett's  lack  of  connection  with  the 
hard-boiled  eggs  somewhat  suspicious,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Todd's  Wharf  and  made  a  thorough  in- 
spection of  the  schooner.  Mr.  Chalk's  eyes  grew 
bright  and  his  step  elastic.  He  roamed  from  fore- 
castle to  cabin  and  from  cabin  to  galley,  and,  his 
practice  with  the  crow's-nest  in  Dialstone  Lane 
standing  him  In  good  stead,  wound  up  by  ascending 
to  the  masthead  and  waving  to  his  astonished  friends 
below. 

Mr.  Todd  came  on  board  as  he  regained  the  deck, 
and,  stroking  his  white  beard,  regarded  him  with  an 
air  of  benevolent  Interest. 

i88 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  There's  no  ill-feeling,"  he  said,  as  Mr.  Chalk 
eyed  his  outstretched  hand  somewhat  dubiously, 
"  You're  a  hard  nut,  that's  what  you  are,  and  I  pity 
anybody  that  has  the  cracking  of  you.  A  man  that 
could  come  and  offer  me  seventy  pounds  for  a  craft 
like  this — seventy  pounds,  mind  you,"  he  addedp. 
with  a  rising  colour,  as  he  turned  to  the  others — ' 
"  seventy  pounds,  and  a  face  like  a  baby.  Why, 
when  I  think  of  it,  damme  if  i  don't " 

Captain  Brisket  laid  his  hand  on  his  arm  and 
with  soothing  words  led  him  below.  His  voice  was 
heard  booming  in  the  cabin  until  at  length  it  ended 
in  a  roar  of  laughter,  and  Captain  Brisket,  appear- 
ing at  the  companion,  beckoned  them  below,  with  a 
whispered  injunction  to  Mr.  Chalk  to  keep  as  much 
in  the  background  as  possible. 

The  business  was  soon  concluded,  and  Mr. 
Chalk's  eye  brightened  again  as  he  looked  on  his 
new  property.  Captain  Brisket,  In  high  good- 
humour,  began  to  talk  of  accommodation,  and, 
among  other  things,  suggested  a  scheme  of  cutting 
through  the  bulkhead  at  the  foot  of  the  companion- 
ladder  and  building  a  commodious  cabin  with  three: 
berths  In  the  hold. 

"  There  are  two  ladles  coming,"  said  Mr.  Chalk.. 

Captain  Brisket  rubbed  his  chin.  *'  I'd  forgotten 
that,"  he  said,  slowly.     *'  Two,  did  you  say?  " 

**  It  doesn't  matter,"  said  Mr.  Stobell,  fixing  him; 
189 


Dialstone  Lane 

with  his  left  eye  and  slowly  veiling  the  right.  "  You 
go  on  with  them  alterations.  One  of  the  ladies  can 
have  your  state-room  and  the  other  the  mate's  bunk." 

"  Where  are  Captain  Brisket  and  the  mate  to 
sleep?"  inquired  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  Anywhere,"  replied  Mr.  Stobell.  "  With  the 
crew  if  they  like." 

Captain  Brisket,  looking  suddenly  very  solemn, 
shook  his  head  and  said  that  it  was  impossible.  He 
spoke  in  moving  terms  of  the  danger  to  discipline, 
and  called  upon  Mr.  Duckett  to  confirm  his  fears. 
Meantime,  Mr.  Stobell,  opening  his  right  eye  slowly, 
winked  with  the  left. 

"  You  go  on  with  them  alterations,"  he  repeated. 

Captain  Brisket  started  and  reflected.  A  nod 
from  Mr.  Tredgold  and  a  significant  gesture  in  the 
direction  of  the  unconscious  Mr.  Chalk  decided 
him.  "  Very  good,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  cheerfully. 
"  I'm  in  your  hands,  and  Peter  Ducket'll  do  what  I 
do.     It's  settled  he's  coming,  I  suppose?  " 

Mr.  Tredgold,  after  a  long  look  at  the  anxious 
face  of  Mr.  Duckett,  said  "  Yes,"  and  then  at  Cap- 
tain Brisket's  suggestion  the  party  adjourned  to  the 
Jack  Ashore,  where  in  a  little  room  upstairs,  not 
much  larger  than  the  schooner's  cabin,  the  prepara- 
tions for  the  voyage  were  discussed  in  detail. 

"  And  mind,  Peter,"  said  Captain  Brisket  to  his 
friend,   as  the  pair  strolled   along  by  the   harbour 

190 


Dialstone  Lane 

after  their  principals  had  departed,  *'  the  less  you 
say  about  this  the  better.  We  don't  want  any  Bid- 
dlecombe  men  in  it." 


•*  There's  more  in  this  than  meets  the  eye." 

*'  Why  not?  "  inquired  the  other. 

"  Because,"  replied  Brisket,  lowering  his  voice, 
"  there's  more  in  this  than  meets  the  eye.  They're 
not  the  sort  to  go  on  a  cruise  to  the  islands  for 
pleasure — except  Chalk,  that  is.     I've  been  keeping 

19V 


Dialstone  Lane 

my  ears  open,  and  there's  something  afoot.  D'ye 
take  me?  " 

Mr.  Duckett  nodded  shrewdly. 

"  I'll  pick  a  crew  for  'em,"  said  Brisket.  "  A 
man  here  and  a  man  there.  BIddlecombe  men  ain't 
tough  enough.  And  now,  what  about  that  whisky 
you've  been  talking  so  much  about?  " 


192 


CHAPTER    XIII 

FURTHER  secrecy  as  to  the  projected  trip 
being  now  useless,  Mr.  Tredgold  made  the 
best  of  the  situation  and  talked  freely  con- 
cerning It.  To  the  astonished  Edward  he  spoke 
feelingly  of  seeing  the  world  before  the  insidious 
encroachments  of  age  should  render  It  Impossible; 
to  Captain  Bowers,  whom  he  met  In  the  High 
Street,  he  discussed  destinations  with  the  air  of  a 
man  whose  mind  was  singularly  open  on  the  sub- 
ject. If  he  had  any  choice  it  appeared  that  It  was 
in  the  direction  of  North  America. 

"  You  might  do  worse,"  said  the  captain,  grimly,. 

"  Chalk,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  meditatively — ■ 
"  Chalk  favours  the  South.  I  think  that  he  got 
rather  excited  by  your  description  of  the  islands 
there.     He  is  a  very " 

'*  If  you  are  going  to  try  and  find  that  island  I 
spoke  about,"  interrupted  the  captain,  impatiently, 
"  I  warn  you  solemnly  that  you  are  wasting  both 
your  time  and  your  money.  If  I  had  known  of  this 
voyage  I  would  have  told  you  so  before.  If  you 
take  my  advice  you'll  sell  your  schooner  and  stick 
to  business  you  understand." 

193 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Tredgold  laughed  easily.  "  We  may  look 
for  it  if  we  go  that  way,"  he  said.  "  I  believe  that 
Chalk  has  bought  a  trowel,  in  case  we  run  up  against 
it.  He  has  got  a  romantic  belief  in  coincidences,  you 
know." 

"  Very  good,"  said  the  captain,  turning  away. 
"  Only  don't  blame  me,  whatever  happens.  You 
can't  say  I  have  not  warned  you." 

He  clutched  his  stick  by  the  middle  and  strode 
off  down  the  road,  Mr.  Tredgold,  gazing  after 
his  retreating  figure  with  a  tolerant  smile,  wondered 
whether  he  would  take  his  share  of  the  treasure 
when  it  was  offered  to  him. 

The  anxiety  of  Miss  Vickers  at  this  period  was 
intense.  Particulars  of  the  purchase  of  the  schooner 
were  conveyed  to  her  by  letter,  but  the  feminine 
desire  of  talking  the  matter  over  with  somebody  be- 
came too  strong  to  be  denied.  She  even  waylaid 
Mr.  Stobell  one  evening,  and,  despite  every  dis- 
couragement, insisted  upon  walking  part  of  the  way 
home  with  him.  He  sat  for  hours  afterwards  re- 
calling the  tit-bits  of  a  summary  of  his  personal 
charms  with  which  she  had  supplied  him. 

Mr.  Chalk  spent  the  time  in  preparations  for  the 
voyage,  purchasing,  among  other  necessaries,  a  stock 
of  firearms  of  all  shapes  and  sizes,  with  which  he 
practised  in  the  garden.  Most  marksmen  diminish 
gradually  the  size  of  their  target;  but  Mr.  ChalL 

194 


Dialstone  Lane 

after  starting  with  a  medicine-bottle  at  a  hundred 
yards,  wound  up  with  the  greenhouse  at  fifteen. 
Mrs.  Chalk,  who  was  inside  at  the  time  tending  aa 
invalid  geranium,   acted  as  marker,   and,   although 


"  Purchasing  firearms,  with  which  he  practised  in  the  garden." 

Mr.  Chalk  proved  by  actual  measurement  that  the 
bullet  had  not  gone  within  six  inches  of  her,  the  range 
was  closed. 

By  the  time  the  alterations  on  the  Fair  Emily  were 
finished  the  summer  was  nearly  at  an  end,  and  it  was 
not  until  the  20th  of  August  that  the  travellers  met 

195 


Dialstone  Lane 

on  BInchester  platform.  Mrs.  Chalk,  in  a  smart 
yachting  costume,  with  a  white-peaked  cap,  stood  by 
a  pile  of  luggage  discoursing  to  an  admiring  circle 
of  friends  who  had  come  to  see  her  off.  She  had 
shut  up  her  house  and  paid  off  her  servants,  and 
her  pity  for  Mrs.  Stobell,  whose  husband  had  for- 
bidden such  a  course  in  her  case,  provided  a  suitable 
and  agreeable  subject  for  conversation.  Mrs.  Sto- 
bell had  economised  in  quite  a  different  direction, 
and  Mrs.  Chalk  gazed  in  indignant  pity  at  the  one 
small  box  and  the  Gladstone  bag  which  contained 
her  wardrobe. 

"  She  don't  want  to  dress  up  on  shipboard,"  said 
Mr.  Stobell. 

Mrs.  Chalk  turned  and  eyed  her  friend's  costume 
— a  plain  tweed  coat  and  skirt,  in  which  she  had 
first  appeared  the  spring  before  last. 

"  If  we're  away  a  year,"  she  said,  decidedly, 
*'  she'll  be  in  rags  before  we  get  back." 

Mr.  Stobell  said  that  fortunately  they  would  be 
in  a  warm  climate,  and  turned  to  greet  the  Tred- 
golds,  who  had  just  arrived.  Then  the  train  came 
in,  and  Mr.  Chalk,  appearing  suddenly  from  behind 
the  luggage,  where  he  had  been  standing  since  he 
had  first  caught  sight  of  the  small,  anxious  face  of 
Selina  Vickers  on  the  platform,  entered  the  carriage 
and  waved  cheery  adieus  to  Binchester. 

To  the  eyes  of  Mr.  Chalk  and  his  wife  Biddle- 
196 


Dialstone  Lane 

combe  appeared  to  have  put  on  holiday  attire  for 
the  occasion.  With  smiling  satisfaction  they  led  the 
way  to  the  ferry,  Mrs.  Chalk's  costume  exciting  so 
much  attention  that  the  remainder  of  the  party  hung 


**  Mrs.  Chalk  stood  by  a  pile  of  luggage,  discoursing  to  an  adnnlring  circle  of 
friends." 

behind  to  watch  Edward  Tredgold  fasten  his  boot- 
lace. It  took  two  boats  to  convey  the  luggage  to 
the  schooner,  and  the  cargo  of  the  smaller  craft  shift- 
ing in  mid-stream,  the  boatman  pulled  the  remainder 
of  the  way  with  a  large  portion  of  it  in  his  lap.  Un- 
fortunately,  his  mouth  was  free. 

197 


Dialstone  Lane  "^  v 

Mr.  Chalk  could  not  restrain  a  cry  of  admiration 
as  he  clambered  on  board  the  Fair  Emily.  The 
deck  was  as  white  as  that  of  a  man-of-war,  and  her 


"  A  slight  nautical  roll." 

brass-work  twinkled  In  the  sun.  White  paint  work 
and  the  honest  and  healthy  smell  of  tar  completed 
his  satisfaction.  His  chest  expanded  as  he  sniffed 
the  breeze,  and  with  a  slight  nautical  roll  paced  up 
and  down  the  spotless  deck. 

*'  And  now,"  said  Captain  Brisket,  after  a  couple 
198 


Dialstone   Lane 

of  sturdy  seamen  had  placed  the  men's  luggage 
in  the  new  cabin,  "  which  of  you  ladies  is  going 
to  have  my  state-room,  and  which  the  mate's 
bunk?" 

Mrs.  Chalk  started;  she  had  taken  it  for  granted 
that  she  was  to  have  the  state-room.  She  turned 
and  eyed  her  friend  anxiously. 

"  The  bunk  seems  to  get  the  most  air,"  said  Mrs. 
Stobell.  "  And  it's  nearer  the  ladder  in  case  of 
emergencies." 

"  You  have  it,  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  tenderly. 
*'  I'm  not  nervous." 

"  But  you  are  so  fond  of  fresh  air,"  said  Mrs, 
Stobell,  with  a  longing  glance  at  the  state-room. 
"  I  don't  like  to  be  selfish." 

"  You're  not,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  with  conviction. 

"  Chalk  and  I  will  toss  for  it,"  said  Mr.  Stobell, 
who  had  been  listening  with  some  impatience.  He 
spun  a  coin  in  the  air,  and  Mr.  Chalk,  winning  the 
bunk  for  his  indignant  wife,  was  at  some  pains  to 
dilate  upon  its  manifold  advantages.  Mrs.  Stobell, 
with  a  protesting  smile,  had  her  things  carried  into 
the  state-room,  while  Mrs.  Chalk  stood  by  listening 
coldly  to  plans  for  putting  her  heavy  luggage  in  the 
hold. 

"What  time  do  we  start?"  inquired  Tredgold 
senior,  moving  towards  the  companion-ladder. 

"  Four  o'clock,  sir,"  replied  Brisket. 
199 


Dialstone   Lane 

Mr.  Stobcll,  his  heavy  features  half-lit  by  an  un- 
wonted smile,  turned  and  surveyed  his  friends.  "  I've 
ordered  a  little  feed  at  the  King  of  Hanover  at  half- 
past  one,"  he  said,  awkwardly.  "  We'll  be  back  on 
board  by  half-past  three,  captain." 

Captain  Brisket  bowed,  and  the  party  were  mak- 
ing preparations  for  departure  when  a  hitch  was 
caused  by  the  behaviour  of  Mrs.  Chalk,  who  was 
still  brooding  over  the  affair  of  the  state-room.  In 
the  plainest  of  plain  terms  she  declared  that  she  did 
not  want  any  luncheon  and  preferred  to  stay  on 
board.  Her  gloom  seemed  to  infect  the  whole 
party,  Mr.  Stobell  in  particular  being  so  dejected  that 
his  wife  eyed  him  in  amazement. 

"  It'll  spoil  it  for  all  of  us  if  you  don't  come," 
he  said,  with  bashful  surliness.  "  Why,  I  arranged 
the  lunch  more  for  you  than  anybody.  It'll  be  our 
last  meal  on  shore." 

Mrs.  Chalk  said  that  she  had  had  so  many  meals 
on  shore  that  she  could  afford  to  miss  one,  and  Mr. 
Stobell,  after  eyeing  her  for  some  time  in  a  manner 
strangely  at  variance  with  his  words,  drew  his  wife 
to  one  side  and  whispered  fiercely  in  her  ear. 

"  Well,  I  sha'n't  go  without  her,"  said  Mrs.  Sto- 
bell, rejoining  the  group.  "  What  with  losing  that 
nice,  airy  bunk  and  getting  that  nasty,  stuffy  state- 
room, I  don't  feel  like  eating." 

Mrs.  Chalk's  countenance  cleared.  *'  Don't  you 
200 


Dialstone  Lane 

like  It,  dear?  "  she  said,  affectionately.  "  Change, 
by  all  means,  if  you  don't.  Never  mind  about  their 
stupid  tossing." 

Mrs.  Stobell  changed,  and  Mr.  Tredgold  senior, 
after  waiting  a  decent  interval  for  the  sake  of  ap- 
pearances, entreated  both  ladies  to  partake  of  the 
luncheon.  Unable  to  resist  any  longer,  Mrs.  Chalk 
gave  way,  and  in  the  ship's  boat,  propelled  by  the 
brawny  arms  of  two  of  the  crew,  went  ashore  with 
the  others. 

Luncheon  was  waiting  for  them  in  the  coffee-room 
of  the  inn,  and  the  table  was  brave  with  flowers  and 
bottles  of  champagne.  Impressed  by  the  occa- 
sion George  the  waiter  attended  upon  them  with  un- 
usual decorum,  and  the  landlady  herself  entered  the 
room  two  or  three  times  to  see  that  things  were  pro- 
ceeding properly. 

"  Here's  to  our  next  meal  on  shore,"  said  Mr. 
Chalk,  raising  his  glass  and  nodding  solemnly  at 
Edward. 

"  That  will  be  tea  for  me,"  said  the  latter.  "  I 
shall  come  back  here,  I  expect,  and  take  a  solitary 
cup  to  your  memory.  Let  me  have  a  word  as  soon 
as  you  can." 

*'  You  ought  to  get  a  cable  from  Sydney  in  about 
six  or  seven  months,"  said  his  father. 

His  son  nodded.  "  Don't  trouble  about  any  ex- 
pressions   of    affection,"    he    urged;    "they'd    come 

20 1 


Dialstone  Lane 

expensive.  If  you  find  me  dead  of  overwork  when 
you  come  back " 

"  I  shall  contest  the  certificate,"  said  his  father, 
with  unwonted  frivolity. 

"I  wonder  how  we  shall  sleep  to-night?"  said 
Mrs.  Stobell,  with  a  little  shiver.  "  Fancy,  only  a 
few  planks  between  us  and  the  water!  " 

"  That  won't  keep  me  awake,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk, 
decidedly;  "but  I  shouldn't  sleep  a  wink  if  I  had 
left  my  girls  in  the  house,  the  same  as  you  have. 
I  should  lie  awake  all  night  wondering  what  tricks 
they'd  be  up  to." 

"  But  you've  left  your  house  unprotected,"  said 
Mrs.  Stobell. 

"  The  house  won't  run  away,"  retorted  her  friend, 
"  and  I've  sent  all  my  valuables  to  the  bank  and  to 
friends  to  take  care  of,  and  had  all  my  carpets  taken 
up  and  beaten  and  warehoused.  I  can't  imagine 
what  Mr.  Stobell  was  thinking  of  not  to  let  you 
do  the  same." 

"  There's  a  lot  as  would  like  to  know  what  I'm 
thinking  of  sometimes,"  remarked  Mr.  Stobell,  with 
a  satisfied  air. 

Mrs.  Chalk  glanced  at  him  superciliously,  but, 
remembering  that  he  was  her  host,  refrained  from 
the  only  comments  she  felt  to  be  suitable  to  the  occa- 
sion. Under  the  tactful  guidance  of  Edward  Tred- 
gold  the  conversation  was  led  to  shipwrecks,  fires  at 

202 


Dialstone  Lane 

sea,  and  other  subjects  of  the  kind  comforting  to  the 
landsman,  Mr.  Chalk  favouring  them  with  a  tale 
of  a  giant  octopus,  culled  from  Captain  Bowers's 
collection,  which  made  Mrs.  Stobell's  eyes  dilate  with 
horror. 

"  You  won't  see  any  octopuses,"  said  her  husband. 
"  You  needn't  worry  about  them." 

He  got  up  from  the  table,  and  crossing  to  the 
window  stood  with  his  hands  behind  his  back,  smok- 
ing one  of  the  "  King  of  Hanover's  "  cigars. 

"  Very  good  smoke  this,"  he  said,  taking  the  cigar 
from  his  mouth  and  inspecting  it  critically.  "  I  think 
I'll  take  a  box  or  two  with  me." 

"  Just  what  I  was  thinking,"  said  Mr.  Jasper 
Tredgold.     "  Let's  go  down  and  see  the  landlord." 

Mr.  Stobell  followed  him  slowly  from  the  room, 
leaving  Mr.  Chalk  and  Edward  to  entertain  the 
ladies.  The  former  gentleman,  clad  in  a  neat  serge 
suit,  an  open  collar,  and  a  knotted  necktie,  leaned 
back  in  his  chair,  puffing  contentedly  at  one  of  the 
cigars  which  had  excited  the  encomiums  of  his 
friends.  He  was  just  about  to  help  himself  to  a 
little  more  champagne  when  Mr.  Stobell,  reap- 
pearing at  the  door,  requested  him  to  come  and 
give  them  the  benefit  of  his  opinion  in  the  matter 
of  cigars. 

"  They  don't  seem  up  to  sample,"  he  said,  with 
a  growl;  "  and  you're  a  good  judge  of  a  cigar." 

203 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Chalk  rose  and  followed  him  downstairs, 
where,  to  his  great  astonishment,  he  was  at  once 
seized  by  Mr.  Tredgold  and  led  outside. 

"  Anything  wrong?  "  he  demanded. 

"  We  must  get  to  the  ship  at  once,"  said  Tred- 
gold, in  an  excited  whisper.     "  The  men!  " 

Mr.  Chalk,  much  startled,  clapped  his  hands  to 
his  head  and  spoke  of  going  back  for  his  hat. 

*'  Never  mind  about  your  hat,"  said  Stobell,  im- 
patiently; "we  haven't  got  ours  either." 

He  took  Mr.  Chalk's  other  arm  and  started  off 
at  a  rapid  pace. 

"What  is  the  matter?"  inquired  Mr.  Chalk, 
looking  from  one  to  the  other. 

*'  Message  from  Captain  Brisket  to  go  on  board 
at  once,  or  he  won't  be  answerable  for  the  conse- 
quences," replied  Tredgold,  in  a  thrilling  whisper; 
*'  and,  above  all,  to  bring  Mr.  Chalk  to  quiet  the 
men." 

Mr.  Chalk  turned  a  ghastly  white.  "  Is  It  mu- 
tiny ?  "  he  faltered.     "  Already  ?  " 

*'  Something  o'  the  sort,"  said  Stobell. 

Despite  his  friend's  great  strength,  Mr.  Chalk 
for  one  moment  almost  brought  him  to  a  standstill. 
Then,  in  a  tremulous  voice,  he  spoke  of  going  to  the 
police. 

*•  We  don't  want  the  police,"  said  Tredgold, 
sharply.     "  If  you're  afraid,  Chalk,  you'd  better  go 

204 


Dialstone   Lane 

back  and  stay  with  the  ladies  while  we  settle  the 
affair." 

Mr.   Chalk  flushed,   and  holding  his  head  erect 
said  no  more.     Mr.  Duckett  and  a  waterman  were 


"  '  Is  it  mutiny  ? '  he  faltered." 

waiting  for  them  at  the  stairs,  and,  barely  giving 
them  time  to  jump  in,  pushed  off  and  pulled  with 
rapid  strokes  to  the  schooner.  Mr.  Chalk's  heart 
failed  him  as  they  drew  near  and  he  saw  men  mov- 
ing rapidly  about  her  deck.  His  last  thoughts  as  he 
clambered  over  the  side  were  of  his  wife. 

205 


Dialstone  Lane 

In  blissful  ignorance  of  his  proceedings,  Mrs. 
Chalk,  having  adjusted  her  cap  in  the  glass  and 
drawn  on  her  gloves,  sat  patiently  awaiting  his  re- 
turn. She  even  drew  a  good-natured  comparison 
between  the  time  spent  on  choosing  cigars  and 
bonnets. 

"  There's  plenty  of  time,"  she  said,  in  reply  to 
an  uneasy  remark  of  Mrs.  Stobell's.  "  It's  only 
just  three,  and  we  don't  sail  until  four.  What  is 
that  horrid,  clanking  noise?" 

"  Some  craft  getting  up  her  anchor,"  said  Edward, 
going  to  the  window  and  leaning  out.  *'Why! 
Halloa!" 

"  What's  the  matter?  "  said  both  ladies. 

Edward  drew  in  his  head  and  regarded  them  with 
an  expression  of  some  bewilderment. 

*'  It's  the  Fair  Emily,^^  he  said,  slowly,  "  and 
she's  hoisting  her  sails." 

"  Just  trying  the  machinery  to  see  that  it's  all 
right,  I  suppose,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk.  "  My  hus- 
band said  that  Captain  Brisket  is  a  very  careful 
man." 

Edward  Tredgold  made  no  reply.  He  glanced 
first  at  three  hats  standing  in  a  row  on  the  sideboard, 
and  then  at  the  ladies  as  they  came  to  the  window, 
and  gazed  with  innocent  curiosity  at  the  schooner. 
Even  as  they  looked  she  drew  slowly  ahead,  and  a 
boat  piled  up  with  luggage,  which  had  been  lying 

206 


Dialstone  Lane 

the  other  side  of  her,  became  visible.     Mrs.  Chalk 
gazed  at  it  in  stupefaction. 


'*'"'  'I'vrm 


*'  She  enacted,  to  the  great  admiration  of  a  small  crowd,  the  part  of  a  human 
semaphore." 

"  It  can't  be  ours,"  she  gasped.  "  They — they'd 
never  dare!     They — they " 

She  stood  for  a  moment  staring  at  the  hats  on 
the  sideboard,  and  then,  followed  by  the  others,  ran 
hastily  downstairs.     There  was  a  hurried  question- 

207 


Dialstone  Lane 

ing  of  the  astonished  landlady,  and  then,  Mrs.  Chalk 
leading,  they  made  their  way  to  the  stairs  at  a  pace 
remarkable  in  a  woman  of  her  age  and  figure.  Mrs. 
Stobell,  assisted  by  Edward  Tredgold,  did  her  best 
to  keep  up  with  her,  but  she  reached  the  goal  some 
distance  ahead,  and,  jumping  heavily  into  a  boat, 
pointed  to  the  fast-receding  schooner  and  bade  the 
boatman  overtake  it. 

"  Can't  be  done,  ma'am,"  said  the  man,  staring, 
*'  not  without  wings." 

"  Row  hard,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  in  a  voice  of  sharp 
encouragement. 

The  boatman,  a  man  of  few  words,  jerked  his 
thumb  in  the  direction  of  the  Fair  Emilys  which  was 
already  responding  to  the  motion  of  the  sea  out- 
side. 

"  You  run  up  the  road  on  to  them  cliffs  and  wave 
to  'em,"  he  said,  slowly.     "  Wave  'ard." 

Mrs.  Chalk  hesitated,  and  then,  stepping  out  of 
the  boat,  resumed  the  pursuit  by  land.  Ten  min- 
utes' hurried  walking  brought  them  to  the  cliffs,  and 
standing  boldly  on  the  verge  she  enacted,  to  the 
great  admiration  of  a  small  crowd,  the  part  of  a 
human  semaphore. 

The  schooner,  her  bows  pointing  gradually  sea- 
wards, for  some  time  made  no  sign.  Then  a  little 
group  clustered  at  the  stern  and  waved  farewells. 


208 


CHAPTER    XIV 

MRS.  CHALK  watched  the  schooner  until 
it  was  a  mere  white  speck  on  the  horizon, 
a  faint  idea  that  it  might  yet  see  the 
error  of  its  ways  and  return  for  her  chaining  her  to 
the  spot.  Compelled  at  last  to  recognise  the  inevi- 
table, she  rose  from  the  turf  on  which  she  had  been 
sitting  and,  her  face  crimson  with  wrath,  denounced 
husbands  in  general  and  her  own  in  particular. 

*'  It's  my  husband's  doing,  I'm  sure,"  said  Mrs. 
Stobell,  with  a  side  glance  at  her  friend's  attire,  not 
entirely  devoid  of  self-congratulation.  "  That's  why 
he  wouldn't  let  me  have  a  yachting  costume.  I  can 
see  it  now." 

Mrs.  Chalk  turned  and  eyed  her  with  angry  dis- 
dain. 

'*  And  that's  why  he  wouldn't  let  me  bring  more 
than  one  box,"  continued  Mrs.  Stobell,  with  the  air 
of  one  to  whom  all  things  had  been  suddenly  re- 
vealed; "and  why  he  wouldn't  shut  the  house  up. 
Oh,  just  fancy  what  a  pickle  I  should  have  been  in 
if  I  had!     I  must  say  it  was  thoughtful  of  him." 

"  Thoughtful! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Chalk,  in  a 
choking  voice. 

209 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  And  I  ought  to  have  suspected  something,"  con- 
tinued Mrs.  Stobell,  "  because  he  kissed  me  this 
morning.  \  I  can  see  now  that  he  meant  it  for  good- 
bye! Well,  I  can't  say  I'm  surprised.  Robert 
always  does  get  his  own  way." 

"  If  you  hadn't  persuaded  me  to  come  ashore  for 
that  wretched  luncheon,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  in  a  deep 
voice,  "  we  should  have  been  all  right." 

"  I'm  sure  I  wasn't  to  know,"  said  her  friend, 
"  although  I  certainly  thought  it  odd  when  Robert 
said  that  he  had  got  it  principally  for  you.  I  could 
see  you  were  a  little  bit  flattered." 

Mrs.  Chalk,  trembling  with  anger,  sought  in  vain 
for  a  retort. 

"  Well,  it's  no  good  staying  here,"  said  Mrs.  Sto- 
bell, philosophically.     *'  We  had  better  get  home." 

"  Home!  "  cried  Mrs.  Chalk,  as  a  vision  of  her 
bare  floors  and  dismantled  walls  rose  before  her. 
"  When  I  think  of  the  deceitfulness  of  those  men, 
giving  us  champagne  and  talking  about  the  long 
evenings  on  board,  I  don't  know  what  to  do  with 
myself.  And  your  father  was  one  of  them,"  she 
added,  turning  suddenly  upon  Edward. 

Mr.  Tredgold  disowned  his  erring  parent  with 
some  haste,  and,  being  by  this  time  rather  tired  of 
the  proceedings,  suggested  that  they  should  return 
to  the  inn  and  look  up  trains — a  proposal  to  which 
Mrs.   Chalk,  after  a  final  glance  seawards,  silently 

210 


Dialstone  Lane 

assented.  With  head  erect  she  led  the  way  down 
to  the  town  again,  her  bearing  being  so  impressive 
that  George  the  waiter,  who  had  been  watching  for 
them,  after  handing  her  a  letter  which  had  been 
entrusted  to  him,  beat  a  precipitate  retreat. 

The  letter,  which  was  from  Mr,  Stobell,  was 
short  and  to  the  point.  It  narrated  the  artifice  by 
which  Mr.  Chalk  had  been  lured  away,  and  con- 
cluded with  a  general  statement  that  women  were 
out  of  place  on  shipboard.  This,  Mrs.  Stobell 
declared,  after  perusing  the  letter,  was  intended 
for  an  apology. 

Mrs.  Chalk  received  the  information  in  stony 
silence,  and,  declining  tea,  made  her  way  to  the  sta- 
tion and  mounted  guard  over  her  boxes  until  the 
train  was  due.  With  the  exception  of  saying  "  In- 
deed !  "  on  three  or  four  occasions  she  kept  silent 
all  the  way  to  Binchester,  and,  arrived  there,  de- 
parted for  home  in  a  cab,  in  spite  of  a  most  pressing 
invitation  from  Mrs.  Stobell  to  stay  with  her  until 
her  own  house  was  habitable. 

Mr.  Tredgold  parted  from  them  both  with  relief. 
The  voyage  had  been  a  source  of  wonder  to  him 
from  its  first  inception,  and  the  day's  proceedings 
had  only  served  to  increase  the  mystery.  He  made 
a  light  supper  and,  the  house  being  too  quiet  for 
his  taste,  went  for  a  meditative  stroll.  The  shops 
were  closed  and  the  small  thoroughfares  almost  de- 

211 


Dialstone  Lane 

serted.  He  wondered  whether  It  was  too  late  to 
call  and  talk  over  the  affair  with  Captain  Bowers, 
and,  still  wondering,  found  himself  in  Dialstone 
Lane. 

Two  or  three  of  the  houses  were  In  darkness,  but 
there  was  a  cheerful  light  behind  the  drawn  blind  of 
the  captain's  sitting-room.  He  hesitated  a  moment 
and  then  rapped  lightly  on  the  door,  and  no  answer 
being  forthcoming  rapped  again.  The  door  opened 
and  revealed  the  amiable  features  of  Mr.  Tasker. 

"  Captain  Bowers  has  gone  to  London,  sir,"  he 
said. 

Mr.  Tredgold  drew  his  right  foot  back  three 
inches,  and  at  the  same  time  tried  to  peer  into  the 
room. 

**  We're  expecting  him  back  every  moment,"  said 
Mr.  Tasker,  encouragingly. 

Mr.  Tredgold  moved  his  foot  forward  again  and 
pondered.  "  It's  very  late,  but  I  wanted  to  see  him 
rather  particularly,"  he  murmured,  as  he  stepped  Into 
the  room. 

"  Miss  Drewitt's  in  the  garden,"  said  Joseph. 

Mr.  Tredgold  started  and  eyed  him  suspiciously. 
Mr.  Tasker's  face,  however,  preserving  Its  usual 
appearance  of  stolid  simplicity,  his  features  relaxed 
and  he  became  thoughtful  again. 

*'  Perhaps  I  might  go  Into  the  garden,"  he  sug- 
gested. 

212 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  I  should  if  I  was  you,  sir,"  said  Joseph,  preced- 
ing him  and  throwing  open  the  back  door.  "  It's 
fresher  out  there." 

Mr.  Tredgold  stepped  into  the  garden  and  stood 
blinking  in  the  sudden  darkness.  There  was  no  moon 
and  the  night  was  cloudy,  a  fact  which  accounted  for 
his  unusual  politeness  towards  a  cypress  of  somewhat 
stately  bearing  which  stood  at  one  corner  of  the 
small  lawn.  He  replaced  his  hat  hastily,  and  an 
apologetic  remark  concerning  the  lateness  of  his  visit 
was  never  finished.  A  trifle  confused,  he  walked 
down  the  garden,  peering  right  and  left  as  he  went, 
but  without  finding  the  object  of  his  search.  Twice 
he  paced  the  garden  from  end  to  end,  and  he  had 
just  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  Mr.  Tasker  had 
made  a  mistake  when  a  faint  sound  high  above  his 
head  apprised  him  of  the  true  state  of  affairs. 

He  stood  listening  in  amazement,  but  the  sound 
was  not  repeated.  Ordinary  prudence  and  a  sense 
of  the  fitness  of  things  suggested  that  he  should  go 
home;  inclination  suggested  that  he  should  seat  him- 
self in  the  deck-chair  at  the  foot  of  the  crow's-nest 
and  await  events.  He  sat  down  to  consider  the 
matter. 

Sprawling  comfortably  in  the  chair  he  lit  his  pipe, 
his  ear  on  the  alert  to  catch  the  slightest  sound  of  the 
captive  in  the  cask  above.  The  warm  air  was  laden 
with  the  scent  of  flowers,  and  nothing  stirred  with 

213 


Dialstone  Lane 

the  exception  of  Mr.  Tasker's  shadow  on  the  blind 
of  the  kitchen  window.  The  clock  in  the  neighbour- 
ing church  chimed  the  three-quarters,  and  in  due 
time  boomed  out  the  hour  of  ten.  Mr.  Tredgold 
knocked  the  ashes  from  his  pipe  and  began  seri- 
ously to  consider  his  position.  Lights  went  out  in 
the  next  house.  Huge  shadows  appeared  on  the 
kitchen  blind  and  the  light  gradually  faded,  to  reap- 
pear triumphantly  in  the  room  above.  Anon  the 
shadow  of  Mr.  Tasker's  head  was  seen  wrestling 
fiercely  with  its  back  collar-stud. 

"  Mr.  Tredgold! "  said  a  sharp  voice  from 
above. 

Mr.  Tredgold  sprang  to  his  feet,  overturning  the 
chair  in  his  haste,  and  gazed  aloft. 

"  Miss  Drewitt!  "  he  cried,  in  accents  of  intense 
surprise. 

"  I  am  coming  down,"  said  the  voice. 

"  Pray  be  careful,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  anxiously; 
"  it  is  very  dark.      Can  I  help  you?  " 

"  Yes — you  can  go  indoors,"  said  Miss  Drewitt. 

Her  tone  was  so  decided  and  so  bitter  that  Mr. 
Tredgold,  merely  staying  long  enough  to  urge  ex- 
treme carefulness  in  the  descent,  did  as  he  was  de- 
sired. He  went  into  the  sitting-room  and,  standing 
uneasily  by  the  fireplace,  tried  to  think  out  his  line 
of  action.  He  was  still  floundering  when  he  heard 
swift   footsteps   coming   up   the   garden,    and    Miss 

214 


Dialstone   Lane 

Drewltt,  v^ery  upright  and  somewhat  flushed  of  face, 
confronted  him. 

"  I — I  called  to  see  the  captain,"  he  said,  hastily, 

fl 


**  *  Mr.  Tredgold  ! '  said  a  sharp  voice  from  above." 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  and  Joseph  told  me  you  were  In  the  garden.  I 
couldn't  see  you  anywhere,  so  I  took  the  liberty  of 
sitting  out  there  to  wait  for  the  captain's  return." 

Miss  Drewitt  listened  impatiently.  "  Did  you 
know  that  I  was  up  In  the  crow's-nest?  "  she  de- 
manded. 

*'  Joseph  never  said  a  word  about  It,"  said  Mr. 
Tredgold,  with  an  air  of  great  frankness.  "  He 
merely  said  that  you  were  In  the  garden,  and,  not 
being  able  to  find  you,  I  thought  that  he  was  mis- 
taken." 

"  Did  you  know  that  I  was  up  In  the  crow's-nest?  " 
repeated  Miss  Drewitt,  with  ominous  persistency. 

"  A — a  sort  of  idea  that  you  might  be  there  did 
occur  to  me  after  a  time,"  admitted  the  other. 

"  Did  you  know  that  I  was  there?  " 

Mr.  Tredgold  gazed  at  her  in  feeble  Indignation, 
but  the  uselessness  of  denial  made  truth  easier. 
'*  Yes,"  he  said,  slowly. 

*'  Thank  you,"  said  the  girl,  scornfully.  "  You 
thought  that  I  shouldn't  like  to  be  caught  up  there, 
and  that  It  would  be  an  amusing  and  gentlemanly 
thing  to  do  to  keep  me  a  prisoner.  I  quite  under- 
stand. My  estimate  of  you  has  turned  out  to  be 
correct." 

'*  It  was  quite  an  accident,"  urged  Mr.  Tredgold, 
humbly.  "  I've  had  a  very  worrying  day  seeing 
them  off  at  Biddlecombe,  and  when  I  heard  you  up 

216 


Dialstone  Lane 

in  the  nest  I  succumbed  to  sudden  temptation.  If  I 
had  stopped  to  think — if  I  had  had  the  faintest  idea 
that  you  would  catechise  me  in  the  way  you  have 
done — I  shouldn't  have  dreamt  of  doing  such  a 
thing." 

Miss  Drewitt,  who  was  standing  with  her  hand 
on  the  latch  of  the  door  leading  upstairs,  as  a  hint 
that  the  interview  was  at  an  end,  could  not  restrain 
her  indignation. 

"  Your  father  and  his  friends  have  gone  off  to 
secure  my  uncle's  treasure,  and  you  come  straight  on 
here,"  she  cried,  hotly.  "  Do  you  think  that  there 
is  no  end  to  his  good-nature?" 

"Treasure?"  said  the  other,  with  a  laugh. 
"  Why,  that  idea  was  knocked  on  the  head  when 
the  map  was  burnt.  Even  Chalk  wouldn't  go  on  a 
roving  commission  to  dig  over  all  the  islands  in  the 
South  Pacific." 

"  I  don't  see  anything  to  laugh  at,"  said  the  girl; 
"  my  uncle  fully  intended  to  burn  it.  He  was  ter- 
ribly upset  when  he  found  that  it  had  disappeared." 

"  Disappeared?  "  cried  Mr.  Tredgold,  in  accents 
of  unmistakable  amazement.  *'  Why,  wasn't  it 
burnt  after  all?    The  captain  said  it  was." 

"  He  was  going  to  burn  It,"  repeated  the  girl, 
watching  him;  "but  somebody  took  it  from  the 
bureau." 

"Took  it?  When?"  inquired  the  other,  as  the 
217 


Dialstone   Lane 

business  of  the  yachting  cruise  began  to  appear  before 
him  in  its  true  colours. 

"  The  afternoon  you  were  here  waiting  for  him," 
said  Miss  Drewitt. 

"Afternoon?"  repeated  Mr.  Tredgold,  blankly. 

"  The  afternoon  I  was "     He  drew  himself  up 

and  eyed  her  angrily.     "  Do  you  mean  to  say  that 
you  think  /  took  the  thing?  " 

"  It  doesn't  matter  what  I  think,"  said  the  girl. 
"  I  suppose  you  won't  deny  that  your  friends  hav^e 
got  it?" 

"Yes;  but  you  said  that  it  was  the  afternoon  I 
was  here,"  persisted  the  other. 

Miss  Drewitt  eyed  him  indignantly.  The  con- 
science-stricken culprit  of  a  few  minutes  before  had 
disappeared,  leaving  in  his  stead  an  arrogant  young 
man,  demanding  explanations  in  a  voice  of  almost 
unbecoming  loudness. 

"  You  are  shouting  at  me,"  she  said,  stiffly. 

Mr.  Tredgold  apologised,  but  returned  to  the 
charge.  "  I  answered  your  question  a  little  while 
ago,"  he  said,  in  more  moderate  tones;  "now, 
please,  answer  mine.  Do  you  think  that  I  took  the 
map?" 

"  I  am  not  to  be  commanded  to  speak  by  you," 
said  Miss  Drewitt,  standing  very  erect. 

"  Fair-play  is  a  jewel,"  said  the  other.  "  Ques- 
tion for  question.     Do  you?" 

218 


Dialstone   Lane 

Miss  Drewltt  looked  at  him  and  hesitated.  "No," 
she  said,  at  last,  with  obvious  reluctance. 

Mr.  Tredgold's  countenance  cleared  and  his  eyes 
softened. 

"  I  suppose  you  admit  that  your  father  has  got 
it?  "  said  the  girl,  noting  these  signs  with  some  dis- 
approval.    "  How  did  he  get  it?  " 

Mr.  Tredgold  shook  his  head.  "  If  those  three 
overgrown  babes  find  that  treasure,"  he  said,  im- 
pressively, "  I'll  doom  myself  to  perpetual  bachelor- 
hood." 

"  I  answered  your  question  just  now,"  said  the 
girl,  very  quietly,  "  because  I  wanted  to  ask  you  one. 
Do  you  beheve  my  uncle's  story  about  the  burled 
treasure?  " 

Mr.  Tredgold  eyed  her  uneasily.  "  I  never  at- 
tached much  importance  to  it,"  he  rephed.  "  It 
seemed  rather  romantic." 

"  Do  you  believe  it?  " 

*'  No,"  said  the  other,  doggedly. 

The  girl  drew  a  long  breath  and  favoured  him 
with  a  look  in  which  triumph  and  anger  were 
strangely  mingled. 

"  I  wonder  you  can  visit  him  after  thinking  him 
capable  of  such  a  falsehood,"  she  said,  at  last.  "  You 
certainly  won't  be  able  to  after  I  have  told  him." 

"  I  told  you  in  confidence,"  was  the  reply.  *'  I 
have  regarded  it  all  along  as  a  story  told  to  amuse 

219 


Dialstone  Lane 

Chalk;  that  is  all.  I  shall  be  very  sorry  If  you  say 
anything  that  might  cause  unpleasantness  between 
myself  and  Captain  Bowers." 

**  I  shall  tell  him  as  soon  as  he  comes  In,"  said 
Miss  Drewltt.  "  It  Is  only  right  that  he  should 
know  your  opinion  of  him.     Good-night." 

Mr.  Tredgold  said  "  good-night,"  and,  walking 
to  the  door,  stood  for  a  moment  regarding  her 
thoughtfully.  It  was  quite  clear  that  In  her  present 
state  of  mind  any  appeal  to  her  better  nature  would 
be  worse  than  useless.  He  resolved  to  try  the  effect 
of  a  little  humility. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  for  my  behaviour  In  the  gar- 
den," he  said,  sorrowfully. 

"It  doesn't  matter,"  said  the  girl;  "  I  wasn't  at 
all  surprised." 

Mr.  Tredgold  recognised  the  failure  of  the  new 
treatment  at  once.  "  Of  course,  when  I  went  Into 
the  garden  I  hadn't  any  Idea  that  you  would  be  In 
such  an  unlikely  place,"  he  said,  with  a  kindly  smile. 
"  Let  us  hope  that  you  won't  go  there  again." 

Miss  Drewltt,  hardly  able  to  believe  her  ears,  let 
him  go  without  a  word,  and  In  a  dazed  fashion  stood 
at  thv  door  and  watched  him  up  the  lane.  When 
the  captain  came  In  a  little  later  she  was  sitting  In  a 
stiff  and  uncomfortable  attitude  by  the  window,  still 
thinking. 

He  was  so  tired  after  a  long  day  In  town  that 

220 


Dialstone  Lane 

the  girl,  at  considerable  personal  inconvenience, 
allowed  him  to  finish  his  supper  before  recounting 
the  manifold  misdeeds  of  Mr.  Tredgold.  She 
waited  until  he  had  pushed  his  chair  back  and  lit  a 
pipe,  and  then  without  any  preface  plunged  into  the 
subject  with  an  enthusiasm  which  she  endeavoured  in 
vain  to  make  contagious.  The  captain  listened  in 
silence  and  turned  a  somewhat  worried  face  in  her 
direction  when  she  had  finished. 

"  We  can't  all  think  alike,"  he  said,  feebly,  as 
she  waited  with  flushed  cheeks  and  sparkling  eyes 
for  the  verdict.  "  I  told  you  he  hadn't  taken  the 
map.  As  for  those  three  idiots  and  their  hare- 
brained voyage " 

"  But  Mr.  Tredgold  said  that  he  didn't  believe  in 
the  treasure,"  said  the  wrathful  Prudence.  "  One 
thing  is,  he  can  never  come  here  again;  I  think  that 
I  made  him  understand  that.  The  idea  of  thinking 
that  you  could  tell  a  falsehood!  " 

The  captain  bent  down  and,  picking  a  used  match 
from  the  hearthrug,  threw  it  carefully  under  the 
grate.     Miss  Drewitt  watched  him  expectantly. 

*'  We  mustn't  quarrel  with  people's  opinions,"  he 
said,  at  last.  "  It's  a  free  country,  and  people  can 
believe  what  they  like.  Look  at  Protestants  and 
Catholics,  for  instance;  their  belief  isn't  the  same, 
and  yet  Fve  known  'em  to  be  staunch  friends." 

Miss  Drewitt  shook  her  head.     "  He  can  never 

221 


Dialstone  Lane 

come  here  again,"  she  said,  with  great  determina- 
tion.   "  He  has  insulted  you,  and  if  you  were  not  the 


**  '  I  never  want  to  hear  another  word  about  that  treasure  as  long  as  I  live.'  " 

best-natured  man  in  the  world  you  would  be  as  angry 
about  it  as  I  am." 

The  captain  smoked  m  silence. 

222 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  And  his  father  and  those  other  two  men  will 
come  back  with  your  treasure,"  continued  Prudence, 
after  waiting  for  some  time  for  him  to  speak. 
"  And,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  you  won't  even  be  able 
to  prosecute  them  for  it." 

"  I  sha'n't  do  anything,"  said  Captain  Bowers,  im- 
patiently, as  he  rose  and  knocked  out  his  half- 
smoked  pipe,  "  and  I  never  want  to  hear  another 
word  about  that  treasure  as  long  as  I  live.  I'm  tired 
of  it.  It  has  caused  more  mischief  and  unpleasant- 
ness than — than  it  is  worth.  They  are  welcome  to 
it  for  me." 


22Z 


CHAPTER    XV 

R.  CHALK'S  foot  had  scarcely  touched 
the  deck  of  the  schooner  when  Mr. 
Tredgold  seized  him  by  the  arm  and, 
whispering  indistinctly  in  his  ear,  hurried  him  below. 

"  Get  your  arms  out  of  the  cabin  as  quick  as  you 
can,"  he  said,  sharply.  "  Then  follow  me  up  on 
deck." 

Mr.  Chalk,  trembling  violently,  tried  to  speak, 
but  in  vain.  A  horrid  clanking  noise  sounded  over- 
head, and  with  the  desperation  of  terror  he  turned 
into  the  new  cabin  and,  collecting  his  weapons,  began 
with  frantic  haste  to  load  them.  Then  he  dropped 
his  rifle  and  sprang  forward  with  a  loud  cry  as  he 
heard  the  door  close  smartly  and  the  key  turn  in 
the  lock. 

He  stood  gazing  stupidly  at  the  door  and  listen- 
ing to  the  noise  overhead.  The  clanking  ceased,  and 
was  succeeded  by  a  rush  of  heavy  feet,  above  which 
he  heard  Captain  Brisket  shouting  hoarsely.  He 
threw  a  despairing  glance  around  his  prison,  and 
then  looked  up  at  the  skylight.  It  was  not  big 
enough  to  crawl  through,  but  he  saw  that  by  stand- 
ing on  the  table  he  could  get  his  head  out.     No  less 

224 


Dialstone  Lane 

dearly  he  saw  how  easy  it  would  be  for  a  rraitinecr 
to  hit  it. 

Huddled  up  in  a  corner  of  the  cabin  he  tried  to 
think.  Tredgold  and  Stobell  were  strangely  silent, 
and  even  the  voice  of  Brisket  had  ceased.  The  sus- 
pense became  unbearable.  Then  suddenly  a  faint 
creaking  and  straining  of  timbers  apprised  him  of 
the  fact  that  the  Fair  Emily  was  under  way. 

He  sprang  to  his  feet  and  beat  heavily  upon  the 
door,  but  it  was  of  stout  wood  and  opened  inwards. 
Then  a  bright  idea,  the  result  of  reading  sensational 
fiction,  occurred  to  him,  and  raising  his  rifle  to  his 
shoulder  he  aimed  at  the  lock  and  pulled  the  trigger. 

The  noise  of  the  explosion  in  the  small  cabin  was 
deafening,  but,  loud  as  it  was,  it  failed  to  drown  a 
cry  of  alarm  outside.  The  sound  of  heavy  feet  and 
of  two  or  three  bodies  struggling  for  precedence  up 
the  companion-lac?  ler  followed,  and  Mr.  Chalk,  still 
holding  his  smoking  rifle  and  regarding  a  splintered 
hole  in  the  centre  of  the  panel,  wondered  whether 
he  had  hit  anybody.  He  slipped  in  a  fresh  cartridge 
and,  becoming  conscious  of  a  partial  darkening  of 
the  skylight,  aimed  hastily  at  a  face  which  appeared 
there.  The  face,  which  bore  a  strong  resemblance 
to  that  of  Mr.  Stobell,  disappeared  with  great  sud- 
denness. 

"  He's  gone  clean  off  his  head,"  said  Captain 
Brisket,  as  Mr.  Stobell  staggered  back. 

225 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Mad  as  a  March  hare,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold, 
shivering;  "  it's  a -wonder  he  didn't  have  one  of  us 
just  now.  Call  down  to  him  that  it's  all  right,  Sto- 
bell." 

"  Call  yourself,"  said  that  gentleman,  shortly. 


"  He  aimed  hastily  at  a  face  which  appeared  there." 

"  Get  a  stick  and  raise  the  skylight,"  said  Tred- 
gold. 

A  loud  report  sounded  from  below.     Mr.  Chalk 
had  fired  a  second  and  successful  shot  at  the  lock. 

"  What's  he  doing?  "  inquired  StobelL  blankly. 
226 


Dialstone  Lane 

A  sharp  exclamation  from  Captain  Brisket  was 
the  only  reply,  and  he  turned  just  as  Mr.  Chalk, 
with  a  rifle  in  one  hand  and  a  revolver  in  the  other, 
appeared  on  deck.  The  captain's  cry  was  echoed  for- 
ward, and  three  of  the  crew  dived  with  marvellous 
skill  into  the  forecastle.  The  boy  and  two  others 
dashed  into  the  galley  so  hurriedly  that  the  cook, 
who  was  peeping  out,  was  borne  backwards  on  to 
the  stove  and  kept  there,  the  things  he  said  in  the 
heat  of  the  moment  being  attributed  to  excitement 
and  attracting  no  attention.  Tredgold,  Brisket,  and 
Stobell  dodged  behind  the  galley,  and  Mr.  Chalk 
was  left  to  gaze  in  open-mouthed  wonder  at  the 
shrinking  figure  of  Mr.  Duckett  at  the  wheel.  They 
regarded  each  other  in  silence,  until  a  stealthy  step 
behind  Mr.  Chalk  made  him  turn  round  smartly. 
Mr.  Stobell,  who  was  stealing  up  to  secure  him, 
dodged  hastily  behind  the  mainmast. 

"Stobell!"  cried  Mr.  Chalk,   faintly. 

"  It's  all  right,"  said  the  other. 

Mr.  Chalk  regarded  his  proceedings  in  amaze- 
ment. "  What  are  you  hiding  behind  the  mast 
for?  "  he  inquired,  stepping  towards  him. 

Mr.  Stobell  made  no  reply,  but  with  an  agility 
hardly  to  be  expected  of  one  of  his  bulk  dashed 
behind  the  galley  again. 

A  sense  of  mystery  and  unreality  stole  over  Mr. 
Chalk.     He  began  to  think  that  he  must  be  dream- 

227 


Dialstone  Lane 

ing.  He  turned  and  looked  at  Mr.  Duckett,  and 
Mr.  Duckett,  trying  to  smile  at  him,  contorted  his 
face  so  horribly  that  he  shrank  back  appalled.  He 
looked  about  him  and  saw  that  they  were  now  in 
open  water  and  drawing  gradually  away  from  the 
land.  The  stillness  and  mystery  became  unbearable, 
and  with  an  air  of  resolution  he  cocked  his  rifle  and 
proceeded  with  infinite  caution  to  stalk  the  galley. 
As  he  weathered  it,  with  his  finger  on  the  trigger, 
Stobell  and  the  others  stole  round  the  other  side 
and,  making  a  mad  break  aft,  stumbled  down  the 
companion-ladder  and  secured  themselves  below. 

"Has  everybody  gone  mad?"  inquired  Mr. 
Chalk,  approaching  the  mate  again. 

"  Everybody  except  you,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Duckett, 
with  great  politeness. 

Mr.  Chalk  looked  forward  again  and  nearly 
dropped  his  rifle  as  he  saw  three  or  four  tousled 
heads  protruding  from  the  galley.  Instinctively  he 
took  a  step  towards  Mr.  Duckett,  and  instinctively 
that  much-enduring  man  threw  up  his  hands  and 
cried  to  him  not  to  shoot.  Mr.  Chalk,  pale  of  face 
and  trembling  of  limb,  strove  to  reassure  him. 

**  But  it's  pointing  towards  me,"  said  the  mate, 
"  and  you've  got  your  finger  on  the  trigger." 

Mr.  Chalk  apologized. 

"  What  did  Tredgold  and  Stobell  run  away  for?  * 
he  demanded. 

228 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Duckett  said  that  perhaps  they  were — like 
Iwmself — nervous  of  firearms.     He  also,  in  reply  to 


«/  fi"^'Mtmg  towards  me,'  said  the  mate." 

further  questions,  assured  him  that  the  mutiny  was 
an  affair  of  the  past,  and,  gaining  confidence,  begged 

229 


Dialstone  Lane 

him  to  hold  the  wheel  steady  for  a  moment.  Mr. 
Chalk,  still  clinging  to  his  weapons,  laid  hold  of  It, 
and  the  mate,  running  to  the  companion,  called  to 
those  below.  Led  by  Mr.  Stobell  they  came  on 
deck. 

"  It's  all  over  now,"  said  Tredgold,  soothingly. 

"  As  peaceable  as  lambs,"  said  Captain  Brisket, 
taking  a  gentle  hold  of  the  rifle,  while  Stobell  took 
the  revolver. 

Mr.  Chalk  smiled  faintly,  and  then  looked  round 
In  trepidation  as  the  inmates  of  the  galley  drew  near 
and  scowled  at  him  curiously. 

"Get  for'ard!  "  cried  Brisket,  turning  on  them 
sharply.  "  Keep  your  own  end  o'  the  ship.  D'ye 
hear?" 

The  men  shuffled  off  slowly,  keeping  a  wary  eye 
on  Mr.  Chalk  as  they  went,  the  knowledge  of  the 
tempting  mark  offered  by  their  backs  to  an  eager 
sportsman  being  apparent  to  all. 

"  It's  all  over,"  said  Brisket,  taking  the  wheel 
from  the  mate  and  motioning  to  him  to  go  away, 
"  and  aft^  your  determination,  sir,  there'll  be  no 
more  of  it,  I'm  sure." 

"But  what  was  It?"  demanded  Mr.  Chalk. 
"Mutiny?" 

"  Not  exactly  what  you  could  call  mutiny,"  re- 
plied the  captain,  In  a  low  voice.  "  A  little  mistake 
o'  Duckett's.     He's  a  nervous  man,  and  perhaps  he 

230 


Dialstone  Lane 

exaggerated  a  little.     But  don't  allude  to  It  again, 
for  the  sake  of  his  feelings." 

"  But  somebody  locked  me  in  the  cabin,"  persisted 
Mr.  Chalk,  looking  from  one  to  the  other. 

Captain  Brisket  hesitated.  "  Did  they?  "  he  said, 
with  a  smile  of  perplexity.  "  Did  they?  I  gave 
orders  that  that  door  was  to  be  kept  locked  when 
there  was  nobody  in  there,  and  I  expect  the  cook 
did  it  by  mistake  as  he  passed.  It's  been  a  chapter 
of  accidents  all  through,  but  I  must  say,  sir,  that  the 
determined  way  you  came  on  deck  was  wonderful." 

"Extraordinary!"  murmured  Mr.  Tredgold. 

"  I  didn't  know  him,"  attested  Mr.  Stobell,  con- 
tinuing to  regard  Mr.  Chalk  with  much  interest. 

"  I  can't  make  head  or  tail  of  it,"  complained  Mr. 
Chalk.     "  What  about  the  ladies?  " 

Captain  Brisket  shook  his  head  dismally  and 
pointed  ashore,  and  Mr.  Chalk,  following  the  direc- 
tion of  his  finger,  gazed  spellbound  at  a  figure  which 
was  signalling  wildly  from  the  highest  point.  Tred- 
gold and  Stobell,  approaching  the  side,  waved  their 
handkerchiefs  in  response. 

"  We  must  go  back  for  them,"  said  Mr.  Chalk, 
firmly. 

"What!  in  this  wind,  sir?"  inquired  Brisket, 
with  an  indulgent  laugh.  "  You're  too  much  of  a 
sailor  to  think  that's  possible,  I'm  sure;  and  It's  going 
to  last." 

231 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  We  must  put  up  with  the  disappointment  and 
do  without  'em,"  said  Stobell. 

Mr.  Chalk  gazed  helplessly  ashore.  "  But  we've 
got  their  luggage,"  he  cried. 

**  Duckett  sent  it  ashore,"  said  Brisket.  "  Think- 
ing that  there  was  men's  work  ahead,  and  that  the 
ladies  might  be  in  the  way,  he  put  it  over  the  side 
and  sent  it  back.  And  mind,  believing  what  he  did, 
I'm  not  saying  he  wasn't  in  the  right." 

Mr.  Chalk  again  professed  his  inability  to  make 
head  or  tail  of  the  proceedings.  Ultimately — due 
time  having  been  given  for  Captain  Brisket's  inven- 
tion to  get  under  way — he  learned  that  a  dyspeptic 
seaman,  mistaking  the  mate's  back  for  that  of  the 
cook,  had  first  knocked  his  cap  over  his  eyes  and 
then  pushed  him  over.  "  And  that,  of  course,"  con- 
cluded the  captain,  "  couldn't  be  allowed  anyway, 
but,  seeing  that  it  was  a  mistake,  we  let  the  chap  off." 

"  There's  one  thing  about  it,"  said  Tredgold,  as 
Chalk  was  about  to  speak;  "  it's  shown  us  the  stuff 
you're  made  of.  Chalk." 

"  He  frightened  w^,"  said  Brisket,  solemnly.  "  I 
own  it.  When  I  saw  him  come  up  like  that  I  lost 
my  nerve." 

Mr.  Chalk  cast  a  final  glance  at  the  dwindling 
figure  on  the  cliff,  and  then  went  silently  below  and 
stood  in  a  pleasant  reverie  before  the  smashed  door. 
He  came  to  the  same  conclusion  regarding  the  des- 

232 


Dialstone  Lane 

perate  nature  of  his  character  as  the  others;  and  the 
nervous  curiosity  of  the  men,  who  took  sly  peeps  at 


**  He  felt  less  heroic  next  morning." 

him,  and  the  fact  that  the  cook  dropped  the  soup- 
tureen  that  evening  when  he  turned  and  found  Mr. 
Chalk  at  his  elbow,  only  added  to  his  satisfaction. 
He  felt  less  heroic  next  morning.     The  wind  had 
233 


Dialstone  Lane 

freshened  during  the  night,  and  the  floor  of  the  cabin 
heaved  in  a  sickening  fashion  beneath  his  feet  as  he 
washed  himself.  The  atmosphere  was  stifling;  tim- 
bers creaked  and  strained,  and  boots  and  other  arti- 
cles rolled  playfully  about  the  floor. 

The  strong,  sweet  air  above  revived  him,  but  the 
deck  was  wet  and  cheerless  and  the  air  chill.  Land 
had  disappeared,  and  a  tumbling  waste  of  grey  seas 
and  a  leaden  sky  was  all  that  met  his  gaze.  Never- 
theless, he  spoke  warmly  of  the  view  to  Captain 
Brisket,  rather  than  miss  which  he  preferred  to  miss 
his  breakfast,  contenting  himself  with  half  a  biscuit 
and  a  small  cup  of  tea  on  deck.  The  smell  of  fried 
bacon  and  the  clatter  of  cups  and  saucers  came  up 
from  below. 

The  heavy  clouds  disappeared  and  the  sun  came 
out.  The  sea  changed  from  grey  to  blue,  and  Tred- 
gold  and  Stobell,  coming  on  deck  after  a  good  break- 
fast, arranged  a  couple  of  chairs  and  sat  down  to 
admire  the  scene.  Aloft  the  new  sails  shone  white 
in  the  sun,  and  spars  and  rigging  creaked  musically. 
A  little  spray  came  flying  at  intervals  over  the  bows 
as  the  schooner  met  the  seas. 

"  Lovely  morning,  sir,"  said  Captain  Brisket,  who 
had  been  for  some  time  exchanging  glances  with  Sto- 
bell and  Trcdgold;  "so  calm  and  peaceful." 

"  Bu'ful,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  shortly.  He  was  gaz- 
ing in  much  distaste  at  a  brig  to  starboard,  which 

234 


Dialstone  Lane 

was  magically  drawn  up  to  the  skies  one  moment  and 
blotted  from  view  the  next. 

"  Nice  fresh  smell,"  said  Tredgold,  sniffing. 
"Have  a  cigar,  Chalk?" 

Mr.  Chalk  shook  his  head,  and  his  friend,  select- 
ing one  from  his  case,  lit  it  with  a  fusee  that  poi- 
soned the  atmosphere. 

"  None  of  us  seem  to  be  sea-sick,"  he  remarked. 

"  Sea-sickness,  sir,"  said  Captain  Brisket — "  sea- 
sickness is  mostly  imagination.  People  think  they're 
going  to  be  bad,  and  they  are.  But  there's  one  cer- 
tain cure  for  it." 

"  Cure?  "  said  Mr.  Chalk,  turning  a  glazing  eye 
upon  him. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Brisket,  with  a  warning  glance  at 
Mr.  Stobell,  who  was  grinning  broadly.  "  It's  old- 
fashioned  and  I've  heard  it  laughed  at,  but  it's  a 
regular  good  old  remedy.  Mr.  Stobell's  laughing 
at  it,"  he  continued,  as  a  gasping  noise  from  that 
gentleman  called  for  explanation,  "  but  it's  true  all 
the  same." 

"What  is  it?"  inquired  Mr.  Chalk,  with  feeble 
impatience. 

"  Pork,"  replied  Captain  Brisket,  with  impressive 
earnestness.  "  All  that  anybody's  got  to  do  is  to  get 
a  bit  o'  pork — fat  pork,  mind  you — and  get  the 
cook  to  stick  a  fork  into  it  and  frizzle  it,  all  bubbling 
and  spluttering,  over  the  galley  fire.     Better  still,  do 

235 


Dialstone   Lane 

it  yourself;  the  smell  o'  the  cooking  being  part 
of " 

Mr.  Chalk  arose  and,  keeping  his  legs  with  diffi- 
culty, steadied  himself  for  a  moment  with  his  hands 
on  the  companion,  and  disappeared  below. 

"  There's  nothing  like  it,"  said  Brisket,  turning 
with  a  satisfied  smile  to  Mr.  Stobell,  who  was  sitting 
with  his  hands  on  his  knees  and  rumbling  with  sup- 
pressed mirth.  *'  It's  an  odd  thing,  but,  if  a  man's 
disposed  to  be  queer,  you've  only  got  to  talk  about 
that  to  finish  him.  Why  talking  about  fried  bacon 
should  be  so  bad  for  'em  I  don't  know." 

*'  Imagination,"  said  Tredgold,  smoking  away 
placidly. 

Brisket  smiled  and  then,  nursing  his  knee,  scowled 
fiercely  at  the  helmsman,  who  was  also  on  the  broad 
grin. 

"  Of  course,  it  wants  proper  telling,"  he  contin- 
ued, turning  to  Stobell.  "  Did  you  notice  his  eyes 
when  I  spoke  of  it  bubbling  and  spluttering  over  the 
galley  fire?  " 

*'  I  did,"  replied  Mr.  Stobell,  laying  his  pipe  care- 
fully on  the  deck. 

"  Some  people  tell  you  to  tie  the  pork  to  a  bit  o' 
string  after  frying  it,"  said  Brisket,  "  but  that's  what 
I  call  overdoing  it.  I  think  it's  quite  enough  to 
describe  its  cooking,  don't  you?  " 

"  Plenty,"  said  Stobell.  "  Have  one  o'  my 
236 


Dialstone  Lane 

matches,"  he  said,  proffering  his  box  to  Tredgold, 
who  was  about  to  relight  his  cigar  with  a  fusee. 

"  Thanks,  I  prefer  this,"  said  Tredgold. 

Mr.  Stobell  put  his  box  in  his  pocket  again  and, 
sitting  lumpily  in  his  chair,  gazed  in  a  brooding  fash- 
ion at  the  side. 

'*  Talking  about  pork,"  began  Brisket,  "  reminds 
me " 

"What!  ain't  you  got  over  that  joke  yet?"  in- 
quired Mr.  Stobell,  glaring  at  him.  "  Poor  Chalk 
can't  help  his  feelings." 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  captain,  staring  back. 

*'  People  can't  help  being  sea-sick,"  said  Stobell, 
fiercely. 

"  Certainly  not,  sir,"  agreed  the  captain. 

"  There's  no  disgrace  in  it,"  continued  Mr.  Sto- 
bell, with  unusual  fluency,  "  and  nothing  funny  about 
it  that  I  can  see." 

"  Certainly  not,  sir,"  said  the  perplexed  captain 
again.  "  I  was  just  going  to  point  out  to  you  how, 
talking  about  pork " 

"  I  know  you  was,"  stormed  Mr.  Stobell,  rising 
from  his  chair  and  lurching  forward  heavily.  "  D'ye 
think  I  couldn't  hear  you?  Prating,  and  prating, 
and  pra " 

He  disappeared  below,  and  the  captain,  after  ex- 
changing a  significant  grin  with  Mr.  Tredgold,  put 
his  hands  behind  his  back  and  began  to  pace  the 

237 


Dialstone  Lane 

deck,  musing  solemnly  on  the   folly  of  trusting  to 
appearances. 

Sea-sickness  wore  off  after  a  day  or  two,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  monotony  of  life  on  board  a  small 


'*The  captain  and  Mr.  Duckett  discussed  with  great  earnestness  the  nature  of  the 

secret." 


238 


Dialstone  Lane 

ship.  Week  after  week  they  saw  nothing  but  sea 
and  sky,  and  Mr.  Chalk,  thirsting  for  change, 
thought  with  wistful  eagerness  of  the  palm-girt  isl- 
ands of  the  Fijian  Archipelago  to  which  Captain 
Brisket  had  been  bidden  to  steer.  In  the  privacy 
of  their  own  cabin  the  captain  and  Mr.  Duckett  dis- 
cussed with  great  earnestness  the  nature  of  the  secret 
which  they  felt  certain  was  responsible  for  the 
voyage. 


^29 


CHAPTER    XVI 

IT  is  an  article  of  belief  with  some  old-fashioned 
people  that  children  should  have  no  secrets 
from  their  parents,  and,  though  not  a  model 
father  in  every  way,  Mr.  Yickers  felt  keenly  the 
fact  that  his  daughter  was  keeping  something  from 
him.  On  two  or  three  occasions  since  the  date  of 
sailing  of  the  Fair  Emily  she  had  relieved  her  mind 
by  throwing  out  dark  hints  of  future  prosperity,  and- 
there  was  no  doubt  that,  somewhere  in  the  house,  she 
had  a  hidden  store  of  gold.  With  his  left  foot  glued 
to  the  floor  he  had  helped  her  look  for  a  sovereign 
one  day  which  had  rolled  from  her  purse,  and  twice 
she  had  taken  her  mother  on  expensive  journeys  to 
Tollminster. 

Brooding  over  the  lack  of  confidence  displayed  by 
Selina,  he  sat  on  the  side  of  her  bed  one  afternoon 
glancing  thoughtfully  round  the  room.  He  was 
alone  in  the  house,  and  now,  or  never,  was  his  oppor- 
tunity. After  an  hour's  arduous  toil  he  had  earned 
tenpence-halfpenny,  and,  rightly  considering  that  the 
sum  was  unworthy  of  the  risk,  put  it  back  where  he 

240 


Dialstone  Lane 

had  found  It,  and  sat  down  gloomily  to  peruse  a 
paper  which  he  had  found  secreted  at  the  bottom  of 
her  box. 

Mr.  Vickers  was  but  a  poor  scholar,  and  the  hand- 
writing was  deplorable.  Undotted  "  i's  "  travelled 
incognito  through  the  scrawl,  and  uncrossed  "  t's  " 
passed  themselves  off  unblushingly  as  "  I's."  After 
half  an  hour's  steady  work,  his  imagination  excited 
by  one  or  two  words  which  he  had  managed  to  de- 
cipher, he  abandoned  the  task  in  despair,  and  stood 
moodily  looking  out  of  the  window.  His  gaze  fell 
upon  Mr.  William  Russell,  standing  on  the  curb 
nearly  opposite,  with  his  hands  thrust  deep  in  his 
trouser-pockets,  and,  after  a  slight  hesitation,  he 
pushed  open  the  small  casement  and  beckoned 
him  in. 

"  You're  a  bit  of  a  scholar,  ain't  you,  Bill?  "  he 
inquired. 

Mr.  Russell  said  modestly  that  he  had  got  the 
name  for  it. 

Again  Mr.  Vickers  hesitated,  but  he  had  no 
choice,  and  his  curiosity  would  brook  no  delay.  With 
a  strong  caution  as  to  secrecy,  he  handed  the  paper 
over  to  his  friend. 

Mr.  Russell,  his  brow  corrugated  with  thought, 
began  to  read  slowly  to  himself.  The  writing  was 
certainly  difficult,  but  the  watching  Mr.  Vickers  saw 
by  the  way  his  friend's  finger  moved  along  the  lines 

241 


Dialstone  Lane 

that  he  was  conquering  It.  By  the  slow  but  steady 
dilation  of  Mr.  Russell's  eyes  and  the  gradual  open- 
ing of  his  mouth,  he  also  saw  that  the  contents  were 
occasioning  him  considerable  surprise. 

"  What  does  it  say?  "  he  demanded,  anxiously. 

Mr.  Russell  paid  no  heed.  He  gave  vent  to  a 
little  gurgle  of  astonishment  and  went  on.  Then  he 
stopped  and  looked  up  blankly. 

"Well,  I'm  d— d!"  he  said. 

"  What  is  it?  "  cried  Mr.  Vickers. 

Mr.  Russell  read  on,  and  such  exclamations  as 
"Well,  I'm  jiggered!"  "Well,  I'm  blest!"  and 
others  of  a  more  complicated  nature  continued  to 
issue  from  his  lips. 

"What's  it  all  about?"  shouted  the  excited  Mr. 
Vickers. 

Mr.  Russell  looked  up  and  blinked  at  him.  "  I 
can't  believe  it,"  he  murmured.  "  It's  like  a  fairy 
tale,  ain't  it?     What  do  you  think  of  it?  " 

The  exasperated  Mr.  Vickers,  thrusting  him  back 
in  his  chair,  shouted  insults  in  his  ear  until  his  friend, 
awaking  to  the  true  position  of  affairs,  turned  to  the 
beginning  again  and  proceeded  with  much  unction  to 
read  aloud  the  document  that  Mr.  Tredgold  had 
given  to  Selina  some  months  before.  Mr.  Vickers 
listened  in  a  state  of  amazement  which  surpassed  his 
friend's,  and,  the  reading  finished,  besought  him  to 
go  over  it  again.     Mr.  Russell  complied,  and  having 

242 


Dialstone   Lane 

got  to  the  end  put  the  paper  down  and  gazed  en- 
viously at  his  friend. 

"  You  won't  have  to  do  no  more  work,"  he  said, 
wistfully. 

"  Not  if  I  'ad  my  rights,"  said  Mr.  Vickers.  "  It's 
like  a  dream,  ain't  it?  " 

"  They  bought  a  ship,  so  I  'eard,"  murmured  the 
other;  "  they've  got  eight  or  nine  men  aboard,  and 
they'll  be  away  pretty  near  a  year.  Why,  Selina'U 
'ave  a  fortune." 

Mr.  Vickers,  sitting  with  his  legs  stretched  out 
stiffly  before  him,  tried  to  think.  "  A  lot  o'  good 
it'll  do  me,"  he  said,  bitterly.  "  It's  young  Joseph 
Tasker  that'll  get  the  benefit  of  it." 

Mr.  Russell  whistled.  "  I'd  forgot  him,"  he  ex- 
claimed, "  but  I  expect  she  only  took  him  becos  she 
couldn't  get  anybody  else." 

Mr.  Vickers  eyed  him  sternly,  but,  reflecting  that 
Selina  was  well  able  to  fight  her  own  battles,  forbore 
to  reply. 

"  She  must  ha'  told  him,"  pursued  Mr.  Russell, 
following  up  a  train  of  thought.  "  Nobody  in  their 
senses  would  want  to  marry  Selina  for  anything 
else." 

"Ho!  indeed,"  said  Mr.  Vickers,  coldly. 

"  Unless  they  was  mad,"  admitted  the  other. 
"  What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it?  "  he  inquired, 
suddenly. 

243 


Dialstone   Lane 

"  I  shall  think  it  over,"  said  Mr.  Vickers,  with 
dignity.  "  As  soon  as  you've  gone  I  shall  sit 
down  with  a  quiet  pipe  and  see  what's  best  to  be 
done." 

Mr.  Russell  nodded  approval.  *'  First  thing  you 
do,  you  put  the  paper  back  where  you  got  it  from," 
he  said,  warningly. 

"  I  know  what  I'm  about,"  said  Mr.  Vickers.  "  I 
shall  think  it  over  when  you're  gone  and  make  up 
my  mind  what  to  do." 

"  Don't  you  do  nothing  in  a  hurry,"  advised  Mr. 
Russell,  earnestly.  "  I'm  going  to  think  it  over, 
too." 

Mr.  Vickers  stared  at  him  in  surprise.  "  You?  " 
he  said,   disagreeably. 

"  Yes,  me,"  replied  the  other.  "  After  all,  what's 
looks?     Looks  ain't  everything." 

His  friend  looked  bewildered,  and  then  started 
furiously  as  the  meaning  of  Mr.  Russell's  remark 
dawned  upon  him.  He  began  to  feel  like  a  miser 
beset  by  thieves. 

"  W^hat  age  do  you  reckon  you  are.  Bill?"  he 
inquired,  after  a  long  pause. 

"  I'm  as  old  as  I  look,"  replied  Mr.  Russell,  sim- 
ply, "  and  I've  got  a  young  face.  I'd  sooner  it  was 
anybody  else  than  Selina ;  but,  still,  you  can't  'ave 
everything.  If  she  don't  take  me  sooner  than 
young  Joseph  I  shall  be  surprised." 

244 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Vickers  regarded  him  with  undisguised  aston- 
ishment. 

"  I  might  ha'  married  scores  o'  times  if  I'd  hked," 
said  Mr.  Russell,  with  a  satisfied  air. 

"  Don't  you  go  doing  nothing  silly,"  said  Mr. 
Vickers,  uneasily.  "  Selina  can't  abear  you.  You 
drink  too  much.  Why,  she's  talking  about  making 
young  Joseph  sign  the  pledge,  to  keep  'im  steady." 

Mr.  Russell  waved  his  objections  aside.  "  I  can 
get  round  her,"  he  said,  with  cheery  confidence.  "  I 
ain't  kept  ferrets  all  these  years  for  nothing.  I'm 
not  going  to  let  all  that  money  slip  through  my 
fingers  for  want  of  a  little  trying." 

He  began  his  courtship  a  few  days  afterwards  in 
a  fashion  which  rendered  Mr.  Vickers  almost  help- 
less with  indignation.  In  full  view  of  Selina,  who 
happened  to  be  standing  by  the  door,  he  brought 
her  unfortunate  father  along  Mint  Street,  holding 
him  by  the  arm  and  addressing  him  In  fond  but 
severe  tones  on  the  surpassing  merits  of  total  ab- 
stinence and  the  folly  of  wasting  his  children's 
money  on  beer. 

*'  I  found  'im  inside  the  '  Horse  and  Groom,'  " 
he  said  to  the  astonished  Selina ;  "  they've  got  a 
new  barmaid  there,  and  the  pore  gal  wasn't  in  the 
house  arf  an  hour  afore  she  was  serving  him  with 
beer.     A  pot,  mind  you." 

He  shook  his  head  in  great  regret  at  the  speech- 
245 


Dialstone  Lane 

less  Mr.  VIckers,  and,  pushing  him  Inside  the  house, 
followed  close  behind. 

"  Look  here,  Bill  Russell,  I  don't  want  any  of 
your  larks,"  said  Miss  Vickers,  recovering  her- 
self. 

"  Larks?  "  repeated  Mr.  Russell,  with  an  injured 


*' '  I  found  'im  inside  the  Horse  and  Groom,'  he  said. 
246 


Dialstone  Lane 

air.     "  I'm  a  teetotaler,  and  it's  my  duty  to  look 
after  brothers  that  go  astray." 

He  produced  a  pledge-card  from  his  waist- 
coat-pocket and,  smoothing  it  out  on  the  table, 
pointed  with  great  pride  to  his  signature.  The 
date  of  the  document  lay  under  the  ban  of  his  little 
finger. 

"  I'd  just  left  the  Temperance  Hall,"  continued 
the  zealot.  "  I've  been  to  three  meetings  in  two 
days;  they'd  been  talking  about  the  new  barmaid, 
and  I  guessed  at  once  what  brother  Vickers  would 
do,  an'  I  rushed  off,  just  in  the  middle  of  brother 
Humphrey's  experiences — and  very  interesting  they 
was,  too — to  save  him.  He  was  just  starting  his 
second  pot,  and  singing  in  between,  when  I  rushed 
in  and  took  the  beer  away  from  him  and  threw  it  on 
the  floor." 

"  I  wasn't  singing,"  snarled  Mr.  Vickers,  endeav- 
ouring to  avoid  his  daughter's  eye. 

"  Oh,  my  dear  friend !  "  said  Mr.  Russell,  who 
had  made  extraordinary  progress  in  temperance 
rhetoric  in  a  very  limited  time,  "  that's  what  comes 
o'  the  drink;  it  steals  away  your  memory." 

Miss  Vickers  trembled  with  wrath.  "  How  dare 
you  go  into  public-houses  after  I  told  you  not  to?  " 
she  demanded,  stamping  her  foot. 

"  We  must  'ave  patience,"  said  Mr.  Russell, 
gently.     "  We  must  show  the  backslider  'ow  much 

247 


Dialstone  Lane 

happier  he  would  be  without  it.  I'll  'elp  you  watch 
him." 

"  When  I  want  your  assistance  I'll  ask  you  for 
it,"  said  Miss  Vickers,  tartly.  "  What  do  you  mean 
by  shoving  your  nose  into  other  people's  affairs?  " 

"  It's — it's  my  duty  to  look  after  fallen  brothers," 
said  Mr.  Russell,  somewhat  taken  aback. 

"What  d'ye  mean  by  fallen?"  snapped  Miss 
Vickers,  confronting  him  fiercely. 

"  Fallen  into  a  pub,"  explained  Mr.  Russell, 
hastily;  "anybody  might  fall  through  them  swing- 
doors;  they're  made   like   that  o'   purpose." 

"  You've  fell  through  a  good  many  in  your  time," 
interposed  Mr.  Vickers,  with  great  bitterness. 

"I  know  I  'ave,"  said  the  other,  sadly;  "but 
never  no  more.  Oh,  my  friend,  if  you  only  knew 
how  'appy  I  feel  since  I've  give  up  the  drink!  If 
you  only  knew  what  it  was  to  'ave  your  own  self- 
respeck!  Think  of  standing  up  on  the  platform 
and  giving  of  your  experiences!  But  I  don't  de- 
spair, brother;  I'll  have  you  afore  I've  done  with 
you." 

Mr.  Vickers,  unable  to  contain  himself,  got  up 
and  walked  about  the  room.  Mr.  Russell,  with  a 
smile  charged  with  brotherly  love,  drew  a  blank 
pledge-card  from  his  pocket  and,  detaining  him  as 
he  passed,  besought  him  to  sign  it. 

"  He'll  do  It  in  time,"  he  said  in  a  loud  whisper 
248 


Dialstone  Lane 

to  Selina,  as  his  victim  broke  loose.  "  I'll  come 
in  of  an  evening  and  tallc  to  him  till  he  does 
sign." 

Miss  Vickers  hesitated,  but,  observing  the  strik- 
ing improvement  in  the  visitor's  attire  effected  by 
temperance,  allowed  a  curt  refusal  to  remain  un- 
spoken.    Mr.  Vickers  protested  hotly. 

"  That'll  do,"  said  his  daughter,  indecision  van- 
ishing at  sight  of  her  father's  opposition;  "  if  Bill 
Russell  likes  to  come  in  and  try  and  do  you  good,  he 
can." 

Mr.  Vickers  said  that  he  wouldn't  have  him,  but 
under  compulsion  stayed  indoors  the  following  even- 
ing, while  Mr.  Russell,  by  means  of  coloured  dia- 
grams, cheerfully  lent  by  his  new  friends,  tried  to 
show  him  the  inroads  made  by  drink  upon  the 
human  frame.  He  sat,  as  Miss  Vickers  remarked, 
like  a  wooden  image,  and  was  only  moved  to  anima- 
tion by  a  picture  of  cirrhosis  of  the  liver,  which  he 
described  as  being  very  pretty. 

At  the  end  of  a  week  Mr.  Vickers's  principles 
remained  unshaken,  and  so  far  Mr.  Russell  had 
made  not  the  slightest  progress  in  his  designs  upon 
the  affections  of  Selina.  That  lady,  indeed,  treated 
him  with  but  scant  courtesy,  and  on  two  occasions 
had  left  him  to  visit  Mr.  Tasker;  Mr.  Vickers's 
undisguised  amusement  at  such  times  being  hard  to 
bear. 

249 


Dialstone  Lane 

*'  Don't  give  up,  Bill,"  he  said,  encouragingly, 
as  Mr.  Russell  sat  glum  and  silent;  "  read  over  them 
beautiful  '  Verses  to  a  Tea-pot '  agin,  and  try  and 
read  them  as  if  you  'adn't  got  your  mouth  full  o' 
fish-bait.     You're  wasting  time." 

"  I  don't  want  none  o'  your  talk,"  said  his  disap- 
pointed friend.  "  If  you  ain't  careful  I'll  tell  Selina 
about  you  going  up  to  her  papers." 

The  smile  faded  from  Mr.  Vickers's  face.  "  Don't 
make  mischief.  Bill,"  he  said,  uneasily. 

"  Well,  don't  you  try  and  make  fun  o'  me,"  said 
Mr.  Russell,  ferociously.  "  Taking  the  pledge  is 
'ard  enough  to  bear  without  having  remarks  from 
you." 

"  I  didn't  mean  them  to  be  remarks.  Bill,"  said 
the  other,  mildly.  "  But  if  you  tell  about  me,  you 
know,  Selina'Il  see  through  your  little  game." 

"  I'm  about  sick  o'  the  whole  thing,"  said  Mr. 
Russell,  desperately.  "  I  ain't  'ad  a  drink  outside 
o'  my  own  house  for  pretty  near  a  fortnight.  I 
shall  ask  Selina  to-morrow  night,  and  settle  it." 

'*  Ask  her?  "  said  the  amazed  Mr.  Vickers.  "  Ask 
'er  what?  " 

"  Ask  'er  to  marry  me,"  said  the  other,  doggedly, 

Mr.  Vickers,  thoroughly  alarmed,  argued  with 
him  in  vain,  the  utmost  concession  he  could  wring 
from  the  determined  Mr.  Russell  being  a  promise  to 
give  him  a  hint  to  get  out  of  the  way. 

250 


Dialstone  Lane 

''  I'll  do  that  for  my  own  sake,"  he  said,  frankly. 
"  I  can  do  it  better  alone,  and  if  your  old  woman 
is  in  you  get  her  out  too.  Ask  'er  to  go  for  a  walk; 
that'll  please  Selina.  I  don't  know  what  the  gal 
does  want.  I  thought  turning  teetotaler  and  setting 
a  good  example  to  you  would  do  the  trick,  if  any- 
thing would." 

Mrs.  Vickers's  utter  astonishment  next  evening, 
when  her  husband  asked  her  to  go  for  a  walk,  irri- 
tated that  gentleman  almost  beyond  endurance. 
Convinced  at  last  that  he  was  not  joking,  she  went 
upstairs  and  put  on  her  bonnet,  and  then  stood  wait- 
ing for  the  reluctant  Mr.  Vickers  with  an  air  of 
almost  bashful  diffidence. 

"  Joseph  is  coming  in  soon,"  said  Selina,  as  her 
parents  moved  to  the  door.  "  I'm  expecting  him 
every  minute." 

"  I'll  stop  and  see  'im,"  said  Mr.  Russell. 
"  There's  something  I  want  to  speak  to  him  about 
partikler." 

Mr.  Vickers  gave  a  warning  glance  at  him  as  he 
went  out,  and  trembled  as  he  noted  his  determined 
aspect.  In  a  state  of  considerable  agitation  he  took 
hold  of  his  wife  by  the  elbow  and  propelled  her 
along. 

It  was  a  cold  night,  and  a  strong  easterly  wind 
had  driven  nearly  everybody  else  indoors.  Mr. 
Vickers  shivered,  and,  moving  at  a  good  pace,  mut- 

251 


Dialstone  Lane 

tered  something  to  his  astonished  wife  about  *'  a 
good  country  walk."  They  quitted  the  streets  and 
plunged  into  dark  lanes  until,  in  Mr,  Vickers's 
judgment,  sufficient  time  having  elapsed  for  the 
worst  to  have  happened,  they  turned  and  made  their 
way  to  the  town  again. 

"  There's  somebody  outside  our  house,"  said  Mrs. 
Vickers,  who  had  been  in  a  state  of  amazed  discom- 
fort the  whole  time. 

Mr.  Vickers  approached  warily.  Two  people 
were  on  the  doorstep  in  the  attitude  of  listeners, 
while  a  third  was  making  strenuous  attempts  to  peep 
through  at  the  side  of  the  window-blind.  From  in- 
side came  the  sound  of  voices  raised  in  dispute,  that 
of  Selina's  being  easily  distinguishable. 

"What — what's  all  this?"  demanded  Mr.  Vick- 
ers, in  trembling  tones,  as  he  followed  his  wife  inside 
and  closed  the  door. 

He  glanced  from  Selina,  who  was  standing  in 
front  of  Mr.  Tasker  in  the  manner  of  a  small  hen 
defending  an  overgrown  chicken,  to  Mr.  Russell, 
who  was  towering  above  them  and  trying  to  reach 
him. 

"  What's  all  this?  "  he  repeated,  with  an  attempt 
at  pomposity. 

The  disputants  all  spoke  at  once:  Mr.  Russell 
with  an  air  of  jocular  ferocity.  Miss  Vickers  in  a 
voice  that  trembled  with  passion,  and  Mr.  Tasker 

252 


Dialstone  Lane 

speaking  as  a  man  with  a  grievance.  Despite  the 
confusion,  Mr.  Vickers  soon  learned  that  it  was  a 
case  of  "  two's  company  and  three's  none,"  and  that 
Mr.   Russell,   after  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  hints  to 


•'Selina  was  standing  in  front  of  Mr.   Tasker  in  the  manner  of  a  small  hen 
defending  an  overgrown  chiclcen." 

retire  which  had  gradually  increased  in  bluntness, 
had  suddenly  turned  restive  and  called  Mr.  Tasker  a 
"  mouldy  image,"  a  "  wall-eyed  rabbit,"  and  divers 
other  obscure  and  contradictory  things.     Not  con- 

253 


Dialstone  Lane 

tent  with  that,  he  had,  without  any  warning,  kissed 
Miss  Vickers,  and  when  Mr.  Tasker,  obeying  that 
infuriated  damsel's  commands,  tried  to  show  him 
the  door,  had  facetiously  offered  to  show  that  gen- 
tleman the  wall  and  taken  him  up,  and  bumped  him 
against  it  until  they  were  both  tired. 

"  Anybody  would  ha'  thought  I  was  hurting  'im 
by  the  noise  he  made,"  said  the  impenitent  Mr.  Rus- 
sell. 

*'  I — I'm  surprised  at  you.  Bill,"  said  Mr.  Vick- 
ers, nervously. 

"  Put  him  outside,"  cried  Selina,  stamping  her 
foot. 

"  You'd  better  get  off  'ome.  Bill,"  said  Mr.  Vick- 
ers, with  a  persuasive  wink. 

"  While  you're  safe,"  added  his  daughter,  with  a 
threatening  gesture. 

"  Go  and  get  yourself  'arf  a  pint  o'  warm  lem- 
onade," chimed  in  the  voice  of  the  daring  Joseph. 

Mr.  Russell  stepped  towards  him,  but  Mr.  Vick- 
ers, seizing  him  by  the  coat,  held  him  back  and 
implored  him  to  remember  where  he  was. 

"  I'd  bump  the  lot  of  you  for  two  pins,"  said  the 
disappointed  Mr.  Russell,  longingly.  "  And  it  'ud 
do  you  good;  you'd  all  be  the  better  for  it.  You'd 
know  'ow  to  behave  to  people  when  they  come  in  to 
see  you,  then.  As  for  Selina,  I  wouldn't  marry  her 
now  for  all  her  money." 

254 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Money? "  said  the  irate  Selina,  scornfully. 
"What  money?" 

"  The  money  in  the  paper,"  said  Mr.  Russell, 
with  a  diabolical  leer  in  the  direction  of  the  unfor- 
tunate Mr.  Vickers.  "  The  paper  what  your  father 
found  in  your  box.     Didn't  he  tell  you?  " 

He  kicked  over  a  chair  which  stood  in  his  way 
and,  with  a  reckless  swagger,  strode  to  the  door. 
At  the  "  Horse  and  Groom,"  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  the  evening,  he  was  so  original  in  his 
remarks  upon  women  that  two  unmarried  men 
offered  to  fight  him,  and  were  only  appeased  by  hear- 
ing a  full  and  true  account  of  the  circumstances  re- 
sponsible for  so  much  bitterness. 


255 


T 


CHAPTER    XVII 

"  ^  I  ARIED!  "  said  Captain  Bowers,  Indig- 
nantly. "  I  have  tried,  over  and  over 
again,  but  It's  no  use." 

"  Have  you  tried  the  right  way?  "  suggested  Ed- 
ward Tredgold. 

"  I've  tried  every  way,"  repHed  Captain  Bowers, 
impatiently. 

"  We  must  think  of  another,  then,"  said  the  im- 
perturbable Edward.     "  Have  some  more  beef?  " 

The  captain  passed  his  plate  up.  "  You  should 
have  seen  her  when  I  said  that  I  was  coming  to  sup- 
per with  you  this  evening,"  he  said,  impressively. 

Mr.  Tredgold  laid  down  the  carving  knife  and 
fork.     "What  did  she  say?"  he  inquired,  eagerly. 

"  Grunted,"  said  the  captain. 

*'  Nonsense,"  said  the  other,  sharply. 

*'  I  tell  you  she  did,"  retorted  the  captain.  "  She 
didn't  say  a  word;  just  grunted." 

"  I  know  what  you  mean,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold; 
"  only  you  are  not  using  the  right  word." 

"All  right,"  said  the  captain,  resignedly;  "I 
don't  know  a  grunt  when  I  hear  it,  then;  that's  all. 

256 


Dialstone  Lane 

She  generally  does  grunt  if  I  happen  to  mention 
your  name." 

Mr.  Tredgold  resumed  his  meal  and  sat  eating  in 
silence.  The  captain,  who  was  waiting  for  more 
beef,  became  restless. 

"  I  hope  my  plate  isn't  in  your  way,"  he  said,  at 
last. 

*'  Not  at  all,"  said  the  other,  absently. 

"  Perhaps  you'll  pass  it  back  to  me,  then,"  said 
the  captain. 

Mr.  Tredgold,  still  deep  in  thought,  complied. 
**  I  wish  I  could  persuade  you  to  have  a  little  more," 
he  said,  in  tones  of  polite  regret.  "  I've  often 
noticed  that  big  men  are  small  eaters.  I  wonder 
why  it  is?  " 

"  Sometimes  it  is  because  they  can't  get  it,  I  ex- 
pect," said  the  indignant  captain. 

Mr.  Tredgold  said  that  no  doubt  that  was  the 
case  sometimes,  and  was  only  recalled  to  the  true 
position  of  affairs  b^  the  hungry  captain  marching 
up  to  the  beef  and  carving  for  himself. 

*'  I'm  sorry,"  he  said,  with  a  laugh.  "  I  was 
thinking  of  something  else.  I  wonder  whether  j^ou 
would  let  me  use  the  crow's-nest  for  a  day  or  two? 
There's  a  place  we  have  got  on  our  hands,  a  mile  or 
two  out,  and  I  want  to  keep  my  eye  on  it." 

The  captain,  his  good  humour  quite  restored,  pre- 
served his  gravity  with  an  effort.     "  I  don't  see  that 

257 


Dialstone  Lane 

she  could  object  to  that,"  he  said,  slowly.  "  It's  a 
matter  of  business,  as  you  might  say." 

"  Of  course,  I  could  go  straight  round  to  the 
back  without  troubling  you,"  resumed  Mr.  Tred- 
gold.  "  It's  so  awkward  not  to  be  able  to  see  you 
when  I  want  to." 

Captain  Bowers  ventured  a  sympathetic  wink. 
"  It's  awkward  not  to  be  able  to  see  anybody  when 
you  want  to,"  he  said,  softly. 

Two  days  later  Miss  Drewitt,  peeping  cautiously 
from  her  bedroom  window,  saw  Mr.  Tredgold 
perched  up  in  the  crow's-nest  with  the  telescope.  It 
was  a  cold,  frosty  day  in  January,  and  she  smiled 
agreeably  as  she  hurried  downstairs  to  the  fire  and 
tried  to  imagine  the  temperature  up  aloft. 

Stern  in  his  attention  to  duty,  Mr.  Tredgold 
climbed  day  after  day  to  his  post  of  observation  and 
kept  a  bored  but  whimsical  eye  on  a  deserted  cow- 
house three  miles  off.  On  the  fourth  day  the  captain 
was  out,  and  Miss  Drewitt,  after  a  casual  peep  from 
the  kitchen  window,  shrugged  her  shoulders  and 
returned  to  the  sitting-room. 

Mr.  Tredgold  must  be  very  cold  up  there,  miss," 
said  Mr.  Tasker,  respectfully,  as  he  brought  in  the 
tea.  "  He  keeps  slapping  his  chest  and  blowing  on 
his  fingers  to  keep  'imself  warm." 

Miss  Drewitt  said  "  Ohl  "  and,  drawing  the  little 
table  up  to  her  easy-chair,  put  down  her  book  and 

258 


Dialstone  Lane 

poured  herself  out  a  cup  of  tea.  She  had  just 
arranged  it  to  her  taste — two  lumps  of  sugar  and 
a  liberal  allowance  of  cream — when  a  faint  rap 
sounded  on  the  front  door. 

*'  Come  in !  "  she  said,  taking  her  feet  from  the 
fender  and  facing  about. 

The  door  opened  and  revealed  to  her  indignant 
gaze  the  figure  of   Mr.   Tredgold.      His  ears   and 
nose  were  of  a  brilliant  red  and  his  eyes  were  water- 
ing with  the  cold.    She  eyed  him  inquiringly. 
•    "  Good  afternoon,"  he  said,  bowing. 

Miss  Drewitt  returned  the  greeting. 

"  Isn't  Captain  Bowers  in?  "  said  Mr.  Tredgold, 
with  a  shade  of  disappointment  in  his  voice  as  he 
glanced  around. 

"  No,"  said  the  girl. 

Mr.  Tredgold  hesitated.  "  I  was  going  to  ask 
him  to  give  me  a  cup  of  tea,"  he  said,  with  a  shiver. 
"  I'm  half  frozen,  and  I'm  afraid  that  I  have  a 
taken  a  chill." 

Miss  Drewitt  nearly  dropped  her  tea-cup  in  sur- 
prise at  his  audacity.  He  was  certainly  very  cold, 
and  she  noticed  a  little  blue  mixed  with  the  red  of 
his  nose.  She  looked  round  the  cosy  room  and  then 
at  the  open  door,  which  was  causing  a  bitter  draught. 

**  He  is  not  in,"  she  repeated. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  patiently. 
**  Good  afternoon." 

259 


Dialstone  Lane 

He  was  so  humble  that  the  girl  began  to  feel  un- 
comfortable.    His  gratitude  for  nothing  reminded 


** « I  was  going  to  ask  him  to  give  me  a  cup  of  tea,'  he  said." 

her  of  a  disappointed  tramp;  moreover,  the  draught 
from  the  door  was  abominable. 

"  I  can  give  you  a  cup  of  tea,  if  you  wish,"  she 
said,  shivering.  "  But  please  make  haste  and  shut 
Vhat  door." 

260 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Tredgold  stepped  inside  and  closed  it  with 
alacrity,  his  back  being  turned  just  long  enough  to 
permit  a  congratulatory  wink  at  the  unconscious 
oak.  He  took  a  chair  the  other  side  of  the  fire,  and, 
extending  his  numbed  fingers  to  the  blaze,  thanked 
her  warmly. 

"  It  is  very  kind  of  you,"  he  said,  as  he  took  his 
cup  from  her.     "  I  was  half  frozen." 

"  I  should  have  thought  that  a  brisk  walk  home 
would  have  been  better  for  you,"  said  the  girl, 
coldly. 

Mr.  Tredgold  shook  his  head  dolefully.  "  I 
should  probably  only  have  had  lukewarm  tea  when 
I  got  there,"  he  replied.  "  Nobody  looks  after  me 
properly." 

He  passed  his  cup  up  and  began  to  talk  of  skating 
and  other  seasonable  topics.  As  he  got  warmer  and 
his  features  regained  their  normal  colouring  and  his 
face  its  usual  expression  of  cheerfulness.  Miss  Drew- 
itt's  pity  began  to  evaporate. 

"Are  you  feeling  better?"  she  inquired,  point- 
edly. 

"  A  little,"  was  the  cautious  reply.  His  face 
took  on  an  expression  of  anxiety  and  he  spoke  of 
a  twinge,  lightly  tapping  his  left  lung  by  way  of 
emphasis. 

*'  I  hope  that  I  shall  not  be  taken  ill  here,"  he 
said,  gravely. 

261 


Dialstone  Lane 

Miss  Drewitt  sat  up  with  a  start.  "  I  should  hope 
not,"  she  said,  sharply. 

"  So  inconvenient,"  he  murmured. 

•'  Quite  impossible,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  whose 
experience  led  her  to  believe  him  capable  of  any- 
thing. 

*•  I  should  never  forgive  myself,"  he  said,  gently. 

Miss  Drewitt  regarded  him  in  alarm,  and  of  her 
own  accord  gave  him  a  third  cup  of  tea  and  told 
him  that  he  might  smoke.  She  felt  safer  when  she 
saw  him  light  a  cigarette,  and,  for  fear  that  a  worse 
thing  might  befall  her,  entered  amiably  into  conver- 
sation. She  even  found  herself,  somewhat  to  her 
surprise,  discussing  the  voyage  and  sympathising 
with  Mr.  Tredgold  in  his  anxiety  concerning  his 
father's  safety. 

"  Mrs.  Chalk  and  Mrs.  Stobell  are  very  anxious, 
too,"  he  said.  "  It  is  a  long  way  for  a  small  craft 
like  that." 

"  And  then  to  find  no  treasure  at  the  end  of  it," 
said  Miss  Drewitt,  with  feminine  sweetness. 

Mr.  Tredgold  stole  a  look  at  her.  "  I  did  not 
mean  to  say  that  the  captain  had  no  treasure,"  he 
said,  quietly. 

"You  believe  in  it  now?"  said  the  girl,  tri- 
amphantly. 

*'  I  believe  that  the  captain  has  a  treasure,"  ad- 
mitted the  other,   *'  certainly." 

262 


Dialstone   Lane 

"  Worth  half  a  million?  "  persisted  Miss  Drewitt. 

"  Worth  more  than  that,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold, 
gazing  steadily  into  the  fire. 

The  girl  looked  puzzled.  "  More?  "  she  said,  in 
surprise. 

"  Much  more,"  said  the  other,  still  contemplating 
the  fire.     "  It  is  priceless." 

Miss  Drewitt  sat  up  suddenly  and  then  let  herself 
back  slowly  into  the  depths  of  the  chair.  Her  face 
turned  scarlet  and  she  hoped  fervently  that  if  Mr. 
Tredgold  looked  at  her  the  earth  might  open  and 
swallow  him  up.  She  began  to  realize  dimly  that 
in  the  absence  of  an  obliging  miracle  of  that  kind 
there  would  never  be  any  getting  rid  of  him. 

"  Priceless,"  repeated  Mr.  Tredgold,  in  challeng- 
ing tones. 

Miss  Drewitt  made  no  reply.  Rejoinder  was  dan- 
gerous and  silence  difficult.  In  a  state  of  nervous 
indignation  she  rang  for  Mr.  Tasker  and  instructed 
him  to  take  away  the  tea-things;  to  sweep  the  hearth; 
and  to  alter  the  position  of  two  pictures.  By  the 
time  all  this  was  accomplished  she  had  regained  her 
wonted  calm  and  was  airing  some  rather  strong 
views  on  the  subject  of  two  little  boys  who  lived 
with  a  catapult  next  door  but  one. 


263 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

MONTH  by  month  the  Fair  Emily  crept 
down  south.  The  Great  Bear  and  other 
constellations  gave  way  to  the  stars  of 
the  southern  skies,  and  Mr.  Chalk  tried  hard  not  to 
feel  disappointed  with  the  arrangement  of  those  in 
the  Southern  Cross.  Pressed  by  the  triumphant 
Brisket,  to  whom  he  voiced  his  views,  he  had  to 
admit  that  it  was  at  least  as  much  like  a  cross  as  the 
other  was  a  bear. 

As  they  got  farther  south  he  had  doffed  his 
jersey  and  sea  boots  in  favour  of  a  drill  suit  and 
bare  feet.  In  this  costume,  surmounted  by  a  Panama 
hat,  he  was  the  only  thing  aboard  that  afforded  the 
slightest  amusement  to  Mr.  Stobell,  whose  temper 
was  suffering  severely  under  a  long  spell  of  monoto- 
nous idleness,  and  whose  remarks  concerning  the  sea 
and  everything  in  connection  with  it  were  so 
strangely  out  of  keeping  with  the  idea  of  a  pleasure 
cruise  that  Mr.  Tredgold  lectured  him  severely  on 
his  indiscretion. 

**  Stobell  is  no  more  doing  this  for  pleasure  than 
I  am,"  said  Captain  Brisket  to  Mr.  Duckett.     "  It's 

264 


Dialstone  Lane 

something  big  that's  brought  him  all  this  way,  you 
mark  my  words." 

The  mate  nodded  acquiescence.  "  What  about 
Mr.  Chalk?  "  he  said,  in  a  low  voice.  "  Can't  you 
get  it  out  of  him?  " 


The  "Fair  Emily" 

"  Shuts  Up  like  an  oyster  directly  I  get  anywhere 
near  it,"  replied  the  captain;  "  sticks  to  it  that  it  is 
a  yachting  trip  and  that  Tredgold  is  studying  the 
formations  of  islands.  Says  he  has  got  a  list  of  them 
he  is  going  to  visit." 

"  Mr.  Tredgold  was  talking  the  same  way  to  me," 
said  the  mate.     '*  He  says  he's  going  to  write  a  book 

265 


Dialstone  Lane 

about  them  when  he  goes  back.  He  asked  me  what 
I  thought  'ud  be  a  good  title." 

**  I  know  what  would  be  a  good  title  for  /n"w," 
growled  Brisket,  as  Mr.  Stobell  came  on  deck  and 
gazed  despondently  over  the  side,  "  We're  get- 
ting towards  the  end  of  our  journey,  sir." 

"  End?  "  said  Mr.  Stobell.  ''  End?  I  don't  be- 
lieve there  is  an  end.  I  believe  you've  lost  your  way 
and  we  shall  go  sailing  on  and  on  for  ever." 

He  walked  aft  and,  placing  himself  in  a  deck- 
chair,  gazed  listlessly  at  the  stolid  figure  of  the  helms- 
man. The  heat  was  intense,  and  both  Tredgold  and 
Chalk  had  declined  to  proceed  with  a  conversation 
limited  almost  entirely  on  his  side  to  personal  abuse. 
He  tried  the  helmsman,  and  made  that  unfortunate 
thirsty  for  a  week  by  discussing  the  rival  merits  of 
bitter  ale  in  a  pewter  and  stout  in  a  china  mug.  The 
helmsman,  a  man  of  liberal  ideas,  said,  with  some 
emotion,  that  he  could  drink  either  of  them  out  of  a 
flower-pot. 

Mr.  Chalk  became  strangely  restless  as  they 
neared  their  goal.  He  had  come  thousands  of  miles 
and  had  seen  nothing  fresh  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  flying-fish,  an  albatross,  and  a  whale  blowing 
in  the  distance.  Pacing  the  deck  late  one  night  with 
Captain  Brisket  he  expressed  mild  yearnings  for  a 
little  excitement. 

*'  You  want  adventure,"  said  the  captain,  shaking 
266 


Dialstone  Lane 

his  head  at  him.  "  I  know  you.  Ah,  what  a  sailor- 
man  you'd  ha'  made.  With  a  crew  o'  six  like  your- 
self I'd  take  this  little  craft  anywhere.  The  way 
you  pick  up  seamanship  is  astonishing.  Peter  Duck- 
€tt  swears  you  must  ha'  been  at  sea  as  a  boy,  and 
all  I  can  do  I  can't  persuade  him  otherwise." 

"  I  always  had  a  feeling  that  I  should  like  it," 
said  Mr.  Chalk,  modestly. 

"Like  it!"  repeated  the  captain.  "  O'  course 
you  do;  you've  got  the  salt  in  your  blood,  but  this 
peaceful  cruising  is  beginning  to  tell  on  you.  There's 
a  touch  o'  wildness  in  you,  sir,  that's  always  strug- 
gling to  come  to  the  front.  Peter  Duckett  was  say- 
ing the  same  thing  only  the  other  day.  He's  very 
uneasy  about  it." 

"Uneasy!  "  repeated  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  Aye,"  said  the  captain,  drawing  a  deep  breath. 
"  And  if  I  tell  you  that  I  am  too,  it  wouldn't  be  out- 
side the  truth." 

"  But  why?  "  inquired  Mr.  Chalk,  after  they  had 
paced  once  up  and  down  the  deck  in  silence. 

"  It's  the  mystery  we  don't  like,"  said  Brisket, 
at  last.  "  How  are  we  to  know  what  desperate  ven- 
ture you  are  going  to  let  us  in  for?  Follow  you 
faithful  we  will,  but  we  don't  like  going  in  the  dark; 
it  ain't  quite  fair  to  us." 

"  There's  not  the  slightest  danger  in  the  world," 
said  Mr.  Chalk,  with  impressive  earnestness. 

267 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  But  there's  a  mystery;  you  can't  deny  that,"  said 
the  captain. 

Mr.  Chalk  cleared  his  throat.  *'  It's  a  secret," 
he  said,  slowly. 

"From  me?"  inquired  the  captain,  in  reproach- 
ful accents. 

•'  It  isn't  my  secret,"  said  Mr.  Chalk.  "  So  far 
as  I'm  concerned  I'd  tell  you  with  pleasure." 

The  captain  slowly  withdrew  his  arm  from  Mr. 
Chalk's,  and  mov^ing  to  the  side  leaned  over  it  with 
his  shoulders  hunched.  Somewhat  moved  by  this 
display  of  feeling,  Mr.  Chalk  for  some  time  hesi- 
tated to  disturb  him,  and  when  at  last  he  did  steal 
up  and  lay  a  friendly  hand  on  the  captain's  shoulder 
it  was  gently  shaken  off. 

*'  Secrets !  "  said  Brisket,  in  a  hollow  voice. 
"  From  me!     I  ain't  to  be  trusted?  " 

"  It  isn't  my  doing,"  said  Mr.  Chalk. 

"  Well,  well,  it  don't  matter,  sir,"  said  the  cap- 
tain. "  Bill  Brisket  must  put  up  with  it.  It's  the 
first  time  in  his  life  he's  been  suspected,  and  it's 
doubly  hard  coming  from  you.  You've  hurt  me, 
sir,  and  there's  no  other  man  living  could  do 
that." 

Mr.  Chalk  stood  by  in  sorrowful  perplexity. 

"  And  I  put  my  life  in  your  hands,"  continued 
the  captain,  with  a  low,  hard  laugh.  "  You're  the 
only  man  in  the  world  that  knows  who  killed  Smiling 

268 


Dialstone  Lane 

Peter  in  San   Francisco,   and  /  told  you.        Well, 
well!" 

"  But  you  did  it  in  self-defence,"  said  the  other, 
eagerly. 

"What  does  that  matter?"  said  the  captain, 
turning  and  walking  forward,  followed  by  the  anx- 
ious Mr.  Chalk.  "  I've  got  no  proof  of  it.  Open 
your  mouth — once — and  I  swing  for  it.  That's  the 
extent  of  my  trust  in  yoii.'''' 

Mr.  Chalk,  much  affected,  swore  a  few  sailorly 
oaths  as  to  what  he  wished  might  happen  to  him  if 
he  ever  betrayed  the  other's  confidence. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  captain,  mournfully,  "  that's  all 
very  well;  but  you  can't  trust  me  in  a  smaller  mat- 
ter, however  much  /  swear  to  keep  it  secret.  And 
it's  weighing  on  me  in  another  way:  I  believe  the 
crew  have  got  an  inkling  of  something,  and  here  am 
I,  master  of  the  ship,  responsible  for  all  your  lives, 
kept  in  ignorance." 

"  The  crew!  "  ejaculated  the  startled  Mr.  Chalk. 

Captain  Brisket  hesitated  and  lowered  his  voice. 
"  The  other  night  I  came  on  deck  for  a  look  round 
and  saw  one  of  them  peeping  down  through  your 
skylight,"  he  said,  slowly.  "  I  sent  him  below,  and 
after  he'd  gone  I  looked  down  and  saw  you  and  Mr. 
Tredgold  and  Stobell  all  bending  over  a  paper." 

Mr.  Chalk,  deep  in  thought,  paced  up  and  down 
in  silence. 

269 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  That's  a  secret,"  said  Brisket.  "  I  don't  want 
them  to  think  that  I  was  spying.  I  told  you  because 
you  understand.  A  shipmaster  has  to  keep  his  eyes 
open,  for  everybody's  sake." 

"  It's  your  duty,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  firmly. 

Captain  Brisket,  with  a  little  display  of  emotion, 
thanked  him,  and,  leaning  against  the  side,  drew  his 
attention  to  the  beauty  of  the  stars  and  sea.  Im- 
pelled by  the  occasion  and  the  charm  of  the  night 
he  waxed  sentimental,  and  with  a  strange  mixture 
of  bluffness  and  shyness  spoke  of  his  aged  mother, 
of  the  loneliness  of  a  seafarer's  life,  and  the  ines- 
timable boon  of  real  friendship.  He  bared  his  in- 
most soul  to  his  sympathetic  listener,  and  then, 
affecting  to  think  from  a  remark  of  Mr.  Chalk's 
that  he  was  going  to  relate  the  secret  of  the  voyage, 
declined  to  hear  it  on  the  ground  that  he  was  only 
a  rough  sailorman  and  not  to  be  trusted.  Mr.  Chalk, 
contesting  this  hotly,  convinced  him  at  last  that  he 
was  in  error,  and  then  found  that,  bewildered  by 
the  argument,  the  captain  had  consented  to  be 
informed  of  a  secret  which  he  had  not  intended  to 
impart. 

"  But,  mind,"  said  Brisket,  holding  up  a  warning 
finger,  "  I'm  not  going  to  tell  Peter  Duckett. 
There's  no  need  for  him  to  know." 

Mr.  Chalk  said  "  Certainly  not,"  and,  seeing  no 
way  for  escape,  led  the  reluctant  man  as  far  from 

270 


Dialstone  Lane 


"He  led  the  reluctant  man  as  far  from  the  helmsman  as  possible  and 
whispered  the  information." 

the  helmsman  as  possible  and  whispered  the  infor- 
mation.    By  the  time  they  parted  for  the  night  Cap- 

271 


Dialstone   Lane 

tain  Brisket  knew  as  much  as  the  members  of  the 
expedition  themselves,  and,  with  a  rare  thoughtful- 
ness,  quieted  Mr.  Chalk's  conscience  by  telling  him 
that  he  had  practically  guessed  the  whole  affair  from 
the  beginning. 

He  listened  with  great  interest  a  few  days  later 
when  Mr.  Tredgold,  after  considering  audibly  which 
Island  he  should  visit  first,  gave  him  the  position  of 
Bowers's  Island  and  began  to  discuss  coral  reefs  and 
volcanic  action.  They  were  now  well  in  among  the 
islands.  Two  they  passed  at  a  distance,  and  went 
so  close  to  a  third — a  mere  reef  with  a  few  palms 
upon  it — that  Mr.  Chalk,  after  a  lengthy  inspection 
through  his  binoculars,  was  able  to  declare  it  unin- 
habited. 

A  fourth  came  into  sight  a  couple  of  days  later: 
a  small  grey  bank  on  the  starboard  bow.  Captain 
Brisket,  who  had  been  regarding  it  for  some  time 
with  great  care,  closed  his  glass  with  a  bang  and 
stepped  up  to  Mr.  Tredgold. 

"  There  she  Is;  sir,"  he  said,  in  satisfied  tones. 

Mr.  Tredgold,  who  was  drinking  tea,  put  down 
his  cup,  and  rose  with  an  appearance  of  mild  inter- 
est. Mr.  Stobell  followed  suit,  and  both  gazed  in 
strong  indignation  at  the  undisguised  excitement  of 
Mr.  Chalk  as  he  raced  up  the  rigging  for  a  better 
view.  Tredgold  with  the  captain's  glass,  and  Sto- 
bell with  an  old  pair  of  field-glasses   in  which  he 

272 


Dialstone  Lane 

had  great  faith,  gazed  from  the  deck.  Tredgold 
was  the  first  to  speak. 

"Are  you  sure  this  is  the  one,  Brisket?"  he  in- 
quired, carelessly. 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  said  the  captain,  in  some  sur- 
prise. "  At  least,  it's  the  one  you  told  me  to  steer 
for." 

*'  Don't  look  much  like  the  map,"  said  Stobell,  in 
a  low  aside.     "  Where's  the  mountain?  " 

Tredgold  looked  again.  "  I  fancy  it's  a  bit  higher 
towards  the  middle,"  he  said,  after  a  prolonged  in- 
spection; "and,  besides,  it's  'mount,'  not  'moun- 
tain.' " 

Captain  Brisket,  who  had  with  great  deUcacy 
drawn  a  little  apart  in  recognition  of  their  whispers, 
stepped  towards  them  agaih. 

"  I  don't  know  that  I've  ever  seen  this  particular 
island  before,"  he  said,  frankly;  "  likely  not;  but  it's 
the  one  you  told  me  to  find.  There's  over  a  couple 
of  hundred  of  them,  large  and  small,  knocking  about. 
If  you  think  you've  made  a  mistake  we  might  try 
some  of  the  others." 

"  No,"  said  Tredgold,  after  a  pause  and  a  pro- 
longed inspection;   ^' this  must  be  right." 

Mr.  Chalk  came  down  from  aloft,  his  eyes  shin- 
ing with  pure  joy,  and  joined  them. 

"  How  long  before  we're  alongside? "  he  in- 
quired. 


Dialstone   Lane 

"Two  hours,"  replied  the  captain;  "perhaps 
three,"  he  added,  considering. 

Mr.  Chalk  glanced  aloft  and,  after  a  knowing 
question  or  two  as  to  the  wind,  began  in  a  low  voice 
to  converse  with  his  friends.  Mr.  Tredgold's  mis- 
givings as  to  the  identity  of  the  island  he  dismissed 
at  once  as  baseless.  The  mount  satisfied  him,  and 
when,  as  they  approached  nearer,  discrepancies  in 
shape  between  the  island  and  the  map  were  pointed 
out  to  him  he  easily  explained  them  by  speaking  of 
the  difficulties  of  cartography  to  an  amateur. 

"  There's  our  point,"  he  said,  indicating  it  with  a 
forefinger,  which  the  incensed  Stobell  at  once  struck 
down.  "  We  couldn't  have  managed  it  better  so 
far  as  time  is  concerned.  We'll  sleep  ashore  to- 
night in  the  tent  and  start  the  search  at  daybreak." 

Captain  Brisket  approached  the  island  cautiously. 
To  the  eyes  of  the  voyagers  it  seemed  to  change  shape 
as  they  neared  it,  until  finally,  the  Fai?-  Emily  an- 
choring off  the  reef  which  guarded  it,  it  revealed 
itself  as  a  small  island  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
long  and  two  or  three  hundred  yards  wide.  A  beach 
of  coral  sand  shelved  steeply  to  the  sea,  and  a  back- 
ground of  cocoa-nut  trees  and  other  vegetation  com- 
pleted a  picture  on  which  Mr.  Chalk  gazed  with  the 
rapture  of  a  devotee  at  a  shrine. 

He  went  below  as  the  anchor  ran  out,  and  after 
a  short  absence  reappeared  on  deck  bedizened  with 

274 


Dialstone  Lane 

weapons.  A  small  tent,  with  blankets  and  provi- 
sions, and  a  long  deal  box  containing  a  couple  of 
spades  and  a  pick,  were  put  into  one  of  the  boats, 


*<Mr.  Duckett  took  the  helm." 


and  the  three  friends,  after  giving  minute  instruc- 
tions to  the  captain,  followed.  Mr.  Duckett  took 
the  helm,  and  after  a  short  pull  along  the  edge  of 
the  reef  discovered  an  opening  which  gave  access  to 
the  smooth  water  inside. 

"  A  pretty  spot,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  scanning 
the  island  closely.  "  I  don't  think  that  there  Is  any- 
body on  it." 

275 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  We'll  go  over  it  first  and  make  sure,"  said  Sto- 
bell,  as  the  boat's  nose  ran  into  the  beach.  "  Come 
along,  Chalk." 

He  sprang  out  and,  taking  one  of  the  guns,  led 
the  way  along  the  beach,  followed  by  Mr.  Chalk. 
The  men  looked  after  them  longingly,  and  then,  in 
obedience  to  the  mate,  took  the  stores  out  of  the  boat 
and  pitched  the  tent.  By  the  time  Chalk  and  Stobell 
returned  they  were  seated  In  the  boat  and  ready  to 
depart. 

A  feeling  of  loneliness  came  over  Mr.  Chalk  as 
he  watched  the  receding  boat.  The  schooner,  riding 
at  anchor  half  a  mile  outside  the  reef,  had  taken  in 
her  sails  and  presented  a  singularly  naked  and  deso- 
late appearance.  He  wondered  how  long  it  would 
take  the  devoted  Brisket  to  send  assistance  in  case 
of  need,  and  blamed  himself  severely  for  not  having 
brought  some  rockets  for  signalling  purposes.  Long 
before  night  came  the  prospect  of  sleeping  ashore 
had  lost  all  its  charm. 

"  One  of  us  ought  to  keep  watch,"  he  said,  as 
Stobell,  after  a  heavy  supper  followed  by  a  satisfying 
pipe,  rolled  himself  in  a  blanket  and  composed  him- 
self for  slumber. 

Mr,  Stobell  grunted,  and  in  a  few  minutes  was 
fast  asleep.  Mr.  Tredgold,  first  blowing  out  the 
candle,  followed  suit,  while  Mr.  Chalk,  a  prey  to 
vague  fears,  sat  up  nursing  a  huge  revolver. 

276 


Dialstone  Lane 

The  novelty  of  the  position,  the  melancholy  beat 
of  the  surge  on  the  farther  beach,  and  faint,  uncer- 
tain noises  all  around  kept  him  awake.  He  fancied 
that  he  heard  stealthy  footsteps  on  the  beach,  and 
low,  guttural  voices  calling  among  the  palms. 
Twice  he  aroused  his  friends  and  twice  they  sat  up 
and  reviled  him. 

"  If  you  put  your  bony  finger  into  my  ribs  again," 
growled  Mr.  Stobell,  tenderly  rubbing  the  afflicted 
part,  *'  you  and  me  won't  talk  alike.  Like  a  bar  of 
iron  it  was." 

"  I  thought  I  heard  something,"  said  Mr.  Chalk. 
"  I  should  have  fired,  only  I  was  afraid  of  scaring 
you." 

''Fired?''  repeated  Mr.  Stobell,  thoughtfully. 
*'  Fired?  Was  it  the  barrel  of  that  infernal  pistol 
you  shoved  into  my  ribs  just  now?  " 

"  I  just  touched  you  with  it,"  admitted  the  other. 
*'  I'm  sorry  if  I  hurt  you." 

Mr.  Stobell,  feeding  in  his  pocket,  struck  a 
match  and  held  it  up.  "  Full  cock,"  he  said,  in  a 
broken  voice;  "  and  he  stirred  me  up  with  it.  And 
then  he  talks  of  savages !  " 

He  struck  another  match  and  lit  the  candle,  and 
then,  before  Mr.  Chalk  could  guess  his  intentions, 
pressed  him  backwards  and  took  the  pistol  away. 
He  raised  the  canvas  and  threw  it  out  into  the  night, 
and  then,  remembering  the  guns,  threw  them  after 

277 


Dialstone  Lane 

It.  This  done  he  blew  out  the  candle,  and  In  two 
minutes  was  fast  asleep  again. 

An  hour  passed  and  Mr.  Chalk,  despite  his  fears, 
began  to  nod.  Half  asleep,  he  lay  down  and  drew 
his  blanket  about  him,  and  then  he  sat  up  suddenly 
wide  awake  as  an  unmistakable  footstep  sounded 
outside. 

For  a  few  seconds  he  sat  unable  to  move ;  then  he 
stretched  out  his  hand  and  began  to  shake  Stobell. 
He  could  have  sworn  that  hands  were  fumbling  at 
the  tent. 

''Eh?"  said  Stobell,  sleepily. 

Chalk  shook  him  again.  Stobell  sat  up  angrily, 
but  before  he  could  speak  a  wild  yell  rent  the  air, 
the  tent  collapsed  suddenly,  and  they  struggled  half 
suffocated  in  the  folds  of  the  canvas. 


278 


CHAPTER    XIX 

MR.  STOBELL  was  the  first  to  emerge,  and, 
seizing  the  canvas,  dragged  it  free  of 
the  writhing  bodies  of  his  companions. 
Mr.  Chalk  gained  his  feet  and,  catching  sight  of 
some  dim  figures  standing  a  few  yards  away  on  the 
beach,  gave  a  frantic  shout  and  plunged  into  the 
interior,  followed  by  the  others.  A  shower  of  pieces 
of  coral  whizzing  by  their  heads  and  another  terri- 
ble yell  accelerated  their  flight. 

Mr.  Chalk  gained  the  farther  beach  unmolested 
and,  half  crazy  with  fear,  ran  along  blindly.  Foot- 
steps, which  he  hoped  were  those  of  his  friends, 
pounded  away  behind  him,  and  presently  Stobell, 
panting  heavily,  called  to  him  to  stop.  Mr.  Chalk, 
looking  over  his  shoulder,  slackened  his  pace  and 
allowed  him  to  overtake  him. 

"  Wait — for — Tredgold,"    said    Stobell,    breath- 
lessly, as  he  laid  a  heavy  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

Mr.  Chalk  struggled  to  free  himself.  "  Where  is 
he?  "  he  gasped. 

Stobell,  still  holding  him,  stood  trying  to  regain 
his  breath.     "  They — they  must — have  got  him,"  he 

279 


Dialstone  Lane 

said,  at  last.  "  Have  you  got  any  of  your  pistols  on 
you?" 

"  You  threw  them  all  away,"  quavered  Mr.  Chalk. 
"  I've  only  got  a  knife." 

He  fumbled  with  trembling  fingers  at  his  belt; 
Stobell  brushing  his  hand  aside  drew  a  sailor's  knife 
from  its  sheath,  and  started  to  run  back  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  tent.  Mr.  Chalk,  after  a  moment's  hesi- 
tation, followed  a  little  way  behind. 

"  Look  out !  "  he  screamed,  and  stopped  sud- 
denly, as  a  figure  burst  out  of  the  trees  on  to  the 
beach  a  score  of  yards  ahead.  Stobell,  with  a  hoarse 
cry,  raised  his  hand  and  dashed  at  it. 

"  Stobell!  "  cried  a  voice. 

"  It's  Tredgold,"  cried  Stobell,  He  waited  for 
him  to  reach  thern,  and  then,  turning,  all  three  ran 
stumbling  along  the  beach. 

They  ran  in  silence  until  they  reached  the  other 
end  of  the  island.  So  far  there  were  no  signs  of 
pursuit,  and  Stobell,  breathing  hard  from  his  un- 
wonted exercise,  collected  a  few  lumps  of  coral  and 
piled  them  on  the  beach. 

"  They  had  me  over — twice,"  said  Tredgold, 
jerkily;  "  they  tore  the  clothes  from  my  back. 
How  I  got  away  I  don't  know.  I  fought — kicked — 
then  suddenly  I  broke  loose  and  ran." 

He  threw  himself  on  the  beach  and  drew  his 
breath  in  long,  sobbing  gasps.     Stobell,  going  a  few 

280 


Dialstone  Lane 

paces   forward,   peered   into   the   darkness   aad  lis- 
tened intently. 

"  I  suppose  they're  waiting  for  daylight,"  he  said 
at  last. 

He  sat  down  on  the  beach  and,  after  making  a 
few  disparaging  remarks  about  coral  as  a  weapon, 
lapsed  into  silence. 

To  Mr.  Chalk  it  seemed  as  though  the  night 
would  never  end.  A  dozen  times  he  sprang  to  his 
feet  and  gazed  fearfully  into  the  darkness,  and  a 
dozen  times  at  least  he  reminded  the  silent  Stobell 
of  the  folly  of  throwing  other  people's  guns  away. 
Day  broke  at  last  and  showed  him  Tredgold  in  a 
tattered  shirt  and  a  pair  of  trousers,  and  Stobell  sit- 
ting close  by  sound  asleep. 

"  We  must  try  and  signal  to  the  ship,"  he  said, 
in  a  hoarse  whisper.     "  It's  our  only  chance." 

Tredgold  nodded  assent  and  shook  Stobell 
quietly.  The  silence  was  oppressive.  They  rose  and 
peered  out  to  sea,  and  a  loud  exclamation  broke 
from  all  three.  The  "  Fair  Emily  "  had  disap- 
peared. 

Stobell  rubbed  his  eyes  and  swore  softly;  Tred- 
gold and  Chalk  stood  gazing  in  blank  dismay  at  the 
unbroken  expanse  of  shining  sea. 

"  The  savages  must  have  surprised  them,"  said  the 
latter,  in  trembling  tones.  "  That's  why  they  left  us 
alone." 

281 


Dialstone   Lane 

"  Or  else  they  heard  the  noise  ashore  and  put  to 
sea,"  said  Tredgold. 

They  stood  gazing  at  each  other  in  consternation. 
Then  Stobell,  who  had  been  looking  about  him, 

^^  ^^ 


"u*^"---     - — "g-*^-) 


••The  '  Fair  Emily  '  had  disappeared." 

gave  vent  to  an  astonished  grunt  and  pointed  to  a 
boat  drawn  upon  the  beach  nearly  abreast  of  where 
their  tent  had  been. 

"  Some  of  the  crew  have  escaped   ashore,"   said 
Mr.  Chalk. 

282 


Dialstone   Lane 

Striking  Inland,  so  as  to  get  the  shelter  of  the 
trees,  they  made  their  way  cautiously  towards  the 
boat.  Colour  was  lent  to  Mr.  Chalk's  surmise  by 
the  fact  that  it  was  fairly  well  laden  with  stores.  As 
they  got  near  they  saw  a  couple  of  small  casks  which 
he  thought  contained  water,  an  untidy  pile  of  tinned 
provisions,  and  two  or  three  bags  of  biscuit.  The 
closest  search  failed  to  reveal  any  signs  of  men,  and 
plucking  up  courage  they  walked  boldly  down  to  the 
boat  and  stood  gazing  stupidly  at  its  contents. 

The  firearms  which  Stobell  had  pitched  out  of  the 
tent  the  night  before  lay  in  the  bottom,  together 
with  boxes  of  cartridges  from  the  cabin,  a  couple  of 
axes,  and  a  pile  of  clothing,  from  the  top  of  which 
Mr.  Tredgold,  with  a  sharp  exclamation,  snatched  a 
somewhat  torn  coat  and  waistcoat.  From  the  for- 
mer he  drew  out  a  bulky  pocketbook,  and,  opening  it 
with  trembling  fingers,  hastily  Inspected  the  contents. 

"  The  map  has  gone !  "  he  shouted. 

The  others  stared  at  him. 

"  Brisket  has  gone  off  with  the  ship,"  he  contin- 
ued, with  desperate  calmness.  "  It  was  the  crew  of 
our  own  schooner  that  frightened  us  off  last  night." 

Mr.  Stobell,  still  staring  in  a  stony  fashion,  nodded 
slowly;  Mr.  Chalk  after  an  effort  found  his  voice. 

"  They've  gone  off  with  the  treasure,"  he  said, 
slowly. 

"  Also,"  continued  Tredgold,  "  this  is  not  Bow- 
283 


Dialstone  Lane 

ers's  Island.  I  can  see  it  all  now.  They've  only 
taken  the  map,  and  now  they're  off  to  the  real  island 
to  get  the  treasure.     It's  as  clear  as  daylight." 

"  Broad  daylight,"  said  Stobell,  huskily.  "  But 
how  did  they  know?  " 

"  Somebody  has  been  talking,"  said  Tredgold,  in 
a  hard  voice.  "  Somebody  has  been  confiding  in 
that  honest,  open-hearted  sailor,  Captain  Brisket." 

He  turned  as  he  spoke  and  gazed  fixedly  at  the 
open-mouthed  Chalk.  In  a  slower  fashion,  but  with 
no  less  venom,  Mr.  Stobell  also  bent  his  regards  upon 
that  amiable  but  erring  man. 

Mr.  Chalk  returned  their  gaze  with  something 
like  defiance.  Half  an  hour  before  he  had  expected 
to  have  been  killed  and  eaten.  He  had  passed  a 
night  of  horror,  expecting  death  every  minute. 
Now  he  exulted  in  the  blue  sky,  the  line  of  white 
breakers  crashing  on  the  reef,  and  the  sea  sparkling 
in  the  sunshine;  and  he  had  not  spent  twenty-five 
years  with  Mrs.  Chalk  without  acquiring  some  skill 
in  the  noble  art  of  self-defence. 

"  Ah,  Brisket  was  trying  to  pump  me  a  week  ago," 
he  said,  confidentially.     "  I  see  it  all  now." 

The  others  glared  at  him  luridly. 

"  He  said  that  he  had  seen  us  through  the  skylight 
studying  a  paper,"  continued  Mr.  Chalk,  shaking 
his  head.  "  I  thought  at  the  time  you  were  rather 
rash,  Tredgold." 

284 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Tredgold  choked  and,  meeting  the  fault-find- 
ing eye  of  Mr.  Stobell,  began  to  protest, 

"  The  thing  Brisket  couldn't  understand,"  said 
Chalk,  gaining  confidence  as  he  proceeded,  "  was 
Stobell's  behaviour.  He  said  that  he  couldn't  be- 
lieve that  a  man  who  grumbled  at  the  sea  so  much 
as  he  did  could  be  sailing  for  pleasure." 

Mr.  Stobell  glowered  fiercely.  "  Why  didn't  you 
tell  us  before?  "  he  demanded. 

"  I  didn't  attach  any  importance  to  it,"  said  Mr. 
Chalk,  truthfully.  "  I  thought  that  it  was  just  curi- 
osity on  Brisket's  part.  It  surprised  me  that  he  had 
been  observing  you  and  Tredgold  so  closely;  that 
was  all." 

"  Pity  you  didn't  tell  us,"  exclaimed  Tredgold, 
harshly.     *'  We  might  have  been  prepared,  then." 

"  You  ought  to  have  told  us  at  once,"  said  Stobell. 

Mr.  Chalk  agreed.  *'  I  ought  to  have  done  so, 
perhaps,"  he  said,  slowly;  "only  I  was  afraid  of 
hurting  your  feelings.  As  it  is,  we  must  make  the 
best  of  it.  It  is  no  good  grumbling  at  each  other. 
If  I  had  had  the  map  instead  of  Tredgold,  perhaps 
this  wouldn't  have  happened." 

"  It  was  a  crazy  idea  to  keep  it  in  your  coat 
pocket,"  said  Stobell,  scowling  at  Tredgold.  "  No 
doubt  Brisket  saw  you  put  it  back  there  the  other 
night,  guessed  what  it  was,  and  laid  his  plans  ac- 
cording." 

285 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  If  it  hadn't  been  for  your  grumbling  it  wouldn't 
have  happened,"  retorted  Tredgold,  hotly.  "  That's 
what  roused  his  suspicions  in  the  first  instance." 

Mr.  Chalk  interposed.  "  It  is  no  good  you  two 
quarrelling  about  it,"  he  said,  with  kindly  severity. 
"  The  mischief  is  done.  Bear  a  hand  with  these 
stores,  and  then  help  me  to  fix  the  tent  up  again." 

The  others  hesitated,  and  then  without  a  word 
Mr.  Stobell  worked  one  of  the  casks  out  of  the  boat 
and  began  to  roll  it  up  the  beach.  The  tent  still  lay 
where  it  had  fallen,  but  the  case  of  spades  had  dis- 
appeared. They  raised  the  tent  again  and  carried 
in  the  stores,  after  which  Mr.  Chalk,  with  the  air  of 
an  old  campaigner,  made  a  small  fire  and  prepared 
breakfast. 

Day  by  day  they  scanned  the  sea  for  any  signs 
of  a  sail,  but  in  v^ain.  Cocoa-nuts  and  a  few  birds 
shot  by  Mr.  Stobell — who  had  been  an  expert  at 
pigeon-shooting  in  his  youth — together  with  a 
species  of  fish  which  Mr.  Chalk  pronounced  to  be 
edible  a  few  hours  after  the  others  had  partaken 
of  it,  furnished  them  with  a  welcome  change  of 
diet.  In  the  smooth  water  inside  the  reef  they 
pulled  about  in  the  boat,  and,  becoming  bolder  and 
more  expert  in  the  management  of  it,  sometimes  ven- 
tured outside.  Mr.  Stobell  pronounced  the  life  to 
be  more  monotonous  than  that  on  board  ship,  and 
once,  in  a  moment  of  severe  depression,  induced  by 

286 


Dialstone  Lane 

five  days'  heavy  rain,  spoke  affectionately  of  Mrs. 
Stobell.  To  Mr.  Chalk's  reminder  that  the  rain 
had  enabled  them  to  replenish  their  water  supply 
he  made  a  churlish  rejoinder. 


"  Mr.  Chalk,  with  the  air  of  an  old  campaigner,  made  a  small  fire  and  prepared 
breakfast." 

He  passed  his  time  in  devising  plans  for  the  cap- 
ture and  punishment  of  Captain  Brisket,  and  caused 
a  serious  misunderstanding  by  expressing  his  regret 
that  that  unscrupulous  mariner  had  not  rendered 
himself  liable  to  the  extreme  penalty  of  the  law  by 

287 


Dialstone  Lane 

knocking  Mr.  Chalk  on  the  head  on  the  night  of 
the  attack.  His  belated  explanation  that  he  wished 
Mr.  Chalk  no  harm  was  pronounced  by  that  gentle- 
man to  be  childish. 

"  We  can  do  nothing  to  Brisket  even  if  we  escape 
from  this  place,"  said  Tredgold,  peremptorily. 

"  Do  nothing?  "  roared  Stobell.     "  Why  not?  " 

"  In  the  first  place  we  sha'n't  find  him,"  said 
Tredgold.  "  After  they  have  got  the  treasure  they 
will  get  rid  of  the  ship  and  disperse  all  over  the 
world." 

Mr.  Stobell,  with  heavy  sarcasm,  said  that  once, 
many  years  before,  he  had  heard  of  people  called 
detectives. 

"  In  the  second  place,"  continued  Tredgold,  "  we 
can't  explain.  It  wasn't  our  map,  and,  strictly 
speaking,  we  had  no  business  with  it.  Even  if  we 
caught  Brisket,  we  should  have  no  legal  claim  to 
the  treasure.  And  if  you  want  to  blurt  out  to  all 
Binchester  how  we  were  tricked  and  frightened  out 
of  our  lives  by  imitation  savages,  I  don't." 

"  He  stole  our  ship,"  growled  Stobell,  after  a 
long  pause.     "  We  could  have  him  for  that." 

"  Mutiny  on  the  high  seas,"  added  Chalk,  with 
an  important  air. 

*'  The  whole  story  would  have  to  come  out,"  said 
Tredgold,  sharply.  "Verdict:  served  them  right. 
Once  we  had  got  the  treasure  we  could  have  given 

288 


Dialstone  Lane 

Captain  Bowers  his  share,  or  more  than  his  share, 
and  it  would  have  been  all  right.  As  it  is,  nobody 
must  know  that  we  went  for  it." 

Mr.  Stobell,  unable  to  trust  himself  with  speech, 
stumped  fiercely  up  and  down  the  beach. 

"  But  it  will  all  have  to  come  out  if  we  are  res- 
cued," objected  Mr.  Chalk. 

*'  We  can  tell  what  story  we  like,"  said  Tred- 
gold.  "  We  can  say  that  the  schooner  went  to 
pieces  on  a  reef  in  the  night;  we  got  separated  from 
the  other  boat  and  made  our  way  here.  We  have 
got  plenty  of  time  to  concoct  a  story,  and  there  is 
nobody  to  contradict  it." 

Mr.  Stobell  brought  up  in  front  of  him  and 
frowned  thoughtfully.  "  I  suppose  you're  right," 
he  said,  slowly;  '*  but  if  we  ever  get  off  this  chicken- 
perch,  and  I  run  across  him,  let  him  look  out,  that's 
all." 

To  pass  the  time  they  built  themselves  a  hut  on 
the  beach  in  a  situation  where  it  would  stand  the 
best  chance  of  being  seen  by  any  chance  vessel.  At 
one  corner  stood  a  mast  fashioned  from  a  tree,  and 
a  flag,  composed  for  the  most  part  of  shirts  which 
Mr.  Chalk  thought  his  friends  had  done  with,  flut- 
tered bravely  in  the  breeze.  It  was  designed  to 
attract  attention,  and,  so  far  as  the  bereaved  Mr.  Sto- 
bell was  concerned,  it  certainly  succeeded. 


2^9 


CHAPTER    XX 

NEARLY  a  year  had  elapsed  since  the  sail- 
ing of  the  Fair  Emilys  and  Binchester, 
which  had  listened  doubtfully  to  the  tale  of 
the  treasure  as  revealed  by  Mr.  William  Russell,  was 
still  awaiting  news  of  her  fate.  Cablegrams  to  Syd- 
ney only  elicited  the  information  that  she  had  not 
been  heard  of,  and  the  opinion  became  general  that 
she  had  added  but  one  more  to  the  many  mysteries  of 
the  sea. 

Captain  Bowers,  familiar  with  many  cases  of  ships 
long  overdue  which  had  reached  home  in  safety,  still 
hoped,  but  it  was  clear  from  the  way  in  which  Mrs. 
Chalk  spoke  of  her  husband  and  the  saint-like  qual- 
ities she  attributed  to  him  that  she  never  expected 
to  see  him  again.  Mr.  Stobell  also  appeared  to  his 
wife  through  tear-dimmed  eyes  as  a  person  of  great 
gentleness  and  infinite  self-sacrifice. 

"All  the  years  we  were  married,"  she  said  one 
afternoon  to  Mrs.  Chalk,  who  had  been  listening 
with  growing  impatience  to  an  account  of  Mr.  Sto- 
bell which  that  gentleman  would  have  been  the  first 

290 


Dialstone   Lane 

to  disclaim,  "  I  never  gave  him  a  cross  word. 
Nothing  was  too  good  for  me;  I  only  had  to  ask 
to  have." 

Mrs.  Chalk  couldn't  help  herself.  "  Why  don't 
you  ask,  then?  "  she  inquired. 

Mrs.  Stobell  started  and  eyed  her  indignantly. 
"  So  long  as  I  had  him  I  didn't  want  anything 
else,"  she  said,  stiffly.  "  We  were  all  in  all  to  each 
other;  he  couldn't  bear  me  out  of  his  sight.  I  re- 
member once,  when  I  had  gone  to  see  my  poor 
mother,  he  sent  me  three  telegrams  in  thirty-five 
minutes  telling  me  to  come  home." 

"  Thomas  was  so  unselfish,"  murmured  Mrs. 
Chalk.  "  I  once  stayed  with  my  mother  for  six 
weeks  and  he  never  said  a  word." 

An  odd  expression,  transient  but  unmistakable, 
flitted  across  the  face  of  the  listener. 

"  It  nearly  broke  his  heart,  though,  poor  dear,'* 
said  Mrs.  Chalk,  glaring  at  her.  "  He  said  he  had 
never  had  such  a  time  in  his  life." 

"  I  don't  expect  he  had,"  said  Mrs.  Stobell,  screw- 
ing up  her  small  features. 

Mrs.  Chalk  drew  herself  up  in  her  chair.  "  What 
do  you  mean  by  that?  "  she  demanded. 

"  I  meant  what  he  meant,"  replied  Mrs.  Stobell, 
with  a  little  air  of  surprise. 

Mrs.  Chalk  bit  her  lip,  and  her  friend,  turning 
her  head,   gazed  long   and  mournfully   at   a   large 

291 


Dialstone  Lane 

photograph  of   Mr.   Stobell  painted  in  oils,   which 
stared  stiffly  down  on  them  from  the  wall. 

"  He  never  caused  me   a  moment's  uneasiness," 
she  said,  tenderly.     "  I  could  trust  him  anywhere." 


"  Her  friend  gazed  long  and  mournfully  at  a  large  photograph  of  Mr.  Stobell." 

Mrs.  Chalk  gazed  thoughtfully  at  the  portrait. 
It  was  not  a  good  likeness,  but  it  was  more  like  Mr. 
Stobell  than  anybody  else  in  Binchester,  a  fact  which 
had  been  of  some  use  in  allaying  certain  unworthy 
suspicions  of  Mr.  Stobell  the  first  time  he  saw  it. 

292 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Chalk,  significantly,  "  I  should  ' 
think  you  could." 

Mrs.  Stobell,  about  to  reply,  caught  the  staring 
eye  of  the  photograph,  and,  shaking  her  head  sor- 
rowfully, took  out  her  handkerchief  and  wiped  her 
eyes.     Mrs.   Chalk  softened. 

"  They,  both  had  their  faults,"  she  said,  gently, 
*'  but  they  were  great  friends.  I  dare  say  that  it 
was  a  comfort  to  them  to  be  together  to  the  last." 

Captain  Bowers  himself  began  to  lose  hope  at 
last,  and  went  about  in  so  moody  a  fashion  that  a 
shadow  seemed  to  have  fallen  upon  the  cottage.  By 
tacit  consent  the  treasure  had  long  been  a  forbid- 
den subject,  and  even  when  the  news  of  Selina's 
promissory  note  reached  Dialstone  Lane  he  had  re- 
fused to  discuss  it.  It  had  nothing  to  do  with  him, 
he  said,  and  he  washed  his  hands  of  it — a  conclu- 
sion highly  satisfactory  to  Miss  Vickers,  who  had 
feared  that  she  would  have  had  to  have  dropped 
for  a  time  her  visits  to  Mr.  Tasker. 

A  slight  change  in  the  household  occurring  at 
this  time  helped  to  divert  the  captain's  thoughts. 
Mr.  Tasker  while  chopping  wood  happened  to  chop 
his  knee  by  mistake,  and,  as  he  did  everything  with 
great  thoroughness,  injured  himself  so  badly  that 
he  had  to  be  removed  to  his  home.  He  was  taken 
away  at  ten  in  the  morning,  and  at  a  quarter-past 
eleven   Selina   Vickers,    in   a   large   apron   and  her 

293 


Dialstone  Lane 

sleeves  rolled  up  over  her  elbows,  was  blacking  the 
kitchen  stove  and  throwing  occasional  replies  to  the 
objecting  captain  over  her  shoulder. 

"  I  promised  Joseph,"  she  said,  sharply,  '*  and 
I  don't  break  my  promises  for  nobody.  He  was 
worrying  about  what  you'd  do  all  alone,  and  I  told 
him  I'd  come." 

Captain   Bowers   looked   at   her   helplessly. 

"  I  can  manage  very  well  by  myself,"  he  said,  at 
last. 

"  Chop  your  leg  off,  I  s'pose?  "  retorted  Miss 
Vickers,   good-temperedly.     '*  Oh,   you  men  !  " 

"  And  I'm  not  at  home  much  while  Miss  Drewitt 
is  away,"  added  the  captain. 

"  All  the  better,"  said  Miss  Vickers,  breathing 
noisily  on  the  stove  and  polishing  with  renewed  vig- 
our.     "  You  won't  be  in  my  way." 

The  captain  pulled  himself  together. 

"  You  can  finish  what  you're  doing,"  he  said, 
mildly,  *'  and  then " 

"  Yes,  I  know  what  to  do,"  interrupted  Miss 
Vickers.  '*  You  leave  it  to  me.  Go  in  and  sit  down 
and  make  yourself  comfortable.  You  ought  not  to 
be  in  the  kitchen  at  all  by  rights.  Not  that  I  mind 
what  people  say — I  should  have  enough  to  do  if  I 
did— but  still " 

The  captain  fled  in  disorder  and  at  first  had  seri- 
ous thoughts  of  wiring  for  Miss  Drewitt,  who  was 

294 


Dialstone  Lane 

spending  a  few  days  with  friends  in  town.  Think- 
ing better  of  this,  he  walked  down  to  a  servants' 
registry  office,  and,  after  being  shut  up  for  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  in  a  small  room  with  a  middle-aged  lady 
of  Irish  extraction,  who  was  sent  in  to  be  catechized, 
resolved  to  let  matters  remain  as  they  were. 

Miss  Vickers  swept  and  dusted,  cooked  and 
scrubbed,  undisturbed,  and  so  peaceable  was  his  de- 
meanour when  he  returned  from  a  walk  one  morn- 
ing, and  found  the  front  room  being  "  turned  out," 
that  she  departed  from  her  usual  custom  and  ex- 
plained the  necessities  of  the  case  at  some  length. 

"  I  dare  say  it'll  be  the  better  for  it,"  said  the 
captain. 

"  O'  course  it  will,"  retorted  Selina.  "  You  don't 
think  I'd  do  it  for  pleasure,  do  you?  I  thought 
you'd  sit  out  in  the  garden,  and  of  course  it  must 
come  on  to  rain." 

The  captain  said  it  didn't  matter. 

"  Joseph,"  said  Miss  Vickers,  as  she  squeezed  a 
wet  cloth  into  her  pail — "  Joseph's  got  a  nice  leg. 
It's  healing  very  slow." 

The  captain,  halting  by  the  kitchen  door,  said  he 
was  sorry  to  hear  it. 

"  Though  there's  worse  things  than  bad  legs," 
continued  Miss  Vickers,  soaping  her  scrubbing-brush 
mechanically;  "  being  lost  at  sea,  for  instance." 

Captain  Bowers  made  no  reply.  Adopting  the 
295 


Dialstone  Lane 

idea  that  all  roads  lead  to  Rome,  Miss  VIckers  had, 
during  her  stay  at  Dialstone  Lane,  made  many  indi- 
rect attempts  to  introduce  the  subject  of  the  treasure- 
seekers. 

"  I  suppose  those  gentlemen  are  drowned?  "  she 
said,  bending  down  and  scrubbing  noisily. 

The  captain,  taking  advantage  of  her  back  being 
turned  towards  him,  eyed  her  severely.  The  hardi- 
hood of  the  girl  was  appalling.  His  gaze  wandered 
from  her  to  the  bureau,  and,  as  his  eye  fell  on  the 
key  sticking  up  in  the  lid,  the  idea  of  reading  her  a 
much-needed  lesson  presented  itself.  He  stepped 
over  the  pail  towards  the  bureau  and,  catching  the 
girl's  eye  as  she  looked  up,  turned  the  key  noisily  in 
the  lock  and  placed  it  ostentatiously  in  his  pocket. 
A  sudden  vivid  change  in  Selina's  complexion  satis- 
fied him  that  his  manoeuvre  had  been  appreciated. 

"  Are  you  afraid  I  shall  steal  anything?  "  she  de- 
manded, hotly,  as  he  regained  the  kitchen. 

The  captain  quailed.  "  No,"  he  said,  hastily. 
"  Somebody  once  took  a  paper  of  mine  out  of  there, 
though,"  he  added.     "  So  I  keep  it  locked  up  now." 

Miss  Vickers  dropped  the  brush  in  the  pail,  and, 
rising  slowly  to  her  feet,  stood  wiping  her  hands  on 
her  coarse  apron.  Her  face  was  red  and  white  in 
patches,  and  the  captain,  regarding  her  with  grow- 
ing uneasiness,  began  to  take  in  sail. 

"  At  least,  I  thought  they  did,"  he  muttered. 
296 


Dialstone  Lane 

Selina  paid  no  heed.     "  Get  out  o'  my  kitchen," 
she  said,  in  a  husky  voice,  as  she  brushed  past  him. 


•*Miss  Vicken  stood  wiping  her  hands  on  her  coarse  apron." 

The  captain  obeyed  hastily,  and,  stepping  inside 
the  dismantled  room,   stood  for  some  time  gazing 

297 


Dialstone   Lane 

out  of  window  at  the  rain.  Then  he  filled  his  pipe 
and,  removing  a  small  chair  which  was  sitting  upside 
down  in  a  large  one,  took  its  place  and  stared  dis- 
consolately at  the  patch  of  wet  floor  and  the  general 
disorder. 

At  the  end  of  an  hour  he  took  a  furtive  peep  Into 
the  kitchen.  Sellna  Vickers  was  sitting  with  her  back 
towards  him,  brooding  over  the  stove.  It  seemed 
clear  to  him  that  she  was  ashamed  to  meet  his  eye, 
and,  glad  to  see  such  signs  of  grace  in  her,  he  re- 
solved to  spare  her  further  confusion  by  going  up- 
stairs. He  went  up  noisly  and  closed  his  door  with 
a  bang,  but  although  he  opened  it  afterwards  and 
stood  listening  acutely  he  heard  so  sound  from 
below. 

By  the  end  of  the  second  hour  his  uneasiness  had 
increased  to  consternation.  The  house  was  as  silent 
as  a  tomb,  the  sitting-room  was  still  in  a  state  of 
chaos,  and  a  healthy  appetite  would  persist  in  putting 
ominous  and  inconvenient  questions  as  to  dinner. 
Whistling  a  cheerful  air  he  went  downstairs  again 
and  put  his  head  In  at  the  kitchen.  Sellna  sat  In  the 
same  attitude,  and  when  he  coughed  made  no  re- 
sponse. 

"  What  about  dinner?  "  he  said,  at  last.  In  a  voice 
which  strove  to  be  unconcerned. 

"  Go  away,"  said  Sellna,  thickly.  "  I  don't  want 
no  dinner." 

298 


Dialstone   Lane 

The  captain  started.  "  But  I  do,"  he  said,  feel- 
ingly. 

"  You'd  better  get  it  yourself,  then,"  replied  Miss 
Vickers,  without  turning  her  head.  "  I  might  steal 
a  potato  or  something." 

"  Don't  talk  nonsense,"  said  the  other,  nervously. 

"  I'm  not  a  thief,"  continued  Miss  Vickers.  "  I 
work  as  hard  as  anybody  in  Binchester,  and  nobody 
can  ever  say  that  I  took  the  value  of  a  farthing  from 
them.     If  I'm  poor  I'm  honest." 

"  Everybody  knows  that,"  said  the  captain,  with 
fervour. 

"  You  said  you  didn't  want  the  paper,"  said  Selina, 
turning  at  last  and  regarding  him  fiercely.  "  I  heard 
you  with  my  own  ears,  else  I  wouldn't  have  taken  it. 
And  if  they  had  come  back  you'd  have  had  your 
share.  You  didn't  want  the  treasure  yourself  and 
you  didn't  want  other  people  to  have  it.  And  it 
wasn't  yours,  because  I  heard  you  say  so." 

"  Very  well,  say  no  more  about  it,"  said  the  cap- 
tain. "If  anybody  asks  you  can  say  that  I  knew 
you  had  it.  Now  go  and  put  that  back  in  the 
bureau." 

He  tossed  the  key  on  to  the  table,  and  Miss  Vick- 
ers, after  a  moment's  hesitation,  turned  with  a  grati- 
fied smile  and  took  it  up.  The  next  hour  he  spent 
in  his  bedroom,  the  rapid  evolutions  of  Miss  Vick- 
ers as  she  passed  from  the  saucepans  to  the  sitting- 

299 


Dialstone  Lane 

room  and  from  the  sitting-room  back  to  the  sauce- 
pans requiring  plenty  of  sea  room. 

A  weelc  later  she  was  one  of  the  happiest  people  in 
Binchester.  Edward  Tredgold  had  received  a  cable 
from  Auckland:  "All  safe;  caning  home,"  and  she 
shared  with  Mrs.  Chalk  and  Mrs.  Stobcll  in  the 
hearty  congratulations  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
Her  satisfaction  was  only  marred  by  the  feverish 
condition  of  Mr.  Tasker  immediately  on  receipt  of 
the  news. 


300 


CHAPTER  XXI 

FORTUNATELY  for  their  peace  of  mind, 
Mr.  Chalk  and  his  friends,  safe  on  board 
the  s.s.  Silver  Star,  bound  for  home,  had  no 
idea  that  the  story  of  the  treasure  had  become  pubhc 
property.  Since  their  message  it  had  become  the 
principal  topic  of  conversation  in  the  town,  and,  Miss 
Vickers  being  no  longer  under  the  necessity  of  keep- 
ing her  share  in  the  affair  secret,  Mr.  William  Rus- 
sell was  relieved  of  a  reputation  for  untruthfulness 
under  which  he  had  long  laboured. 

Various  religious  and  philanthropic  bodies  began 
to  bestir  themselves.  Owing  to  his  restlessness  and 
love  of  change  no  fewer  than  three  sects  claimed 
Mr.  Chalk  as  their  own,  and,  referring  to  his  dona- 
tions in  the  past,  looked  forward  to  a  golden  future. 
The  claim  of  the  Church  to  Mr.  Tredgold  was  re- 
garded as  flawless,  but  the  case  of  Mr.  Stobell  bris- 
tled with  difficulties.  Apologists  said  that  he  be- 
longed to  a  sect  unrepresented  in  Binchester,  but  an 
offshoot  of  the  Baptists  put  in  a  claim  on  the  ground 
that  he  had  built  that  place  of  worship — at  a  con- 
siderable loss  on  the  contract — some  fifteen  years 
before. 

Dialstone  Lane,  when  it  became  known  that  Cap- 


Dialstone  Lane 


tain  Bowers  had  waived  his  claim  to  a  share,  was 
besieged  by  people  seeking  the  reversion,  and  even 
Mint  Street  was  not  overlooked.     Mr.  Vickers  re- 


f.-'"  ,■        ^^e-N-a 


*'Selina  gives  twopence  on  account." 

pelled  all  callers  with  acrimonious  impartiality,  but 
Selina,  after  a  long  argument  with  a  lady  subaltern 
of  the  Salvation  Army,  during  which  the  methods 
and  bonnets  of  that  organization  were  hotly  assailed, 
so  far  relented  as  to  present  her  with  twopence  on 
account. 

302 


Dialstone   Lane 

Miss  Drewitt  looked  forward  to  the  return  of  the 
adventurers  with  disdainful  interest.  To  Edward 
Tredgold  she  referred  with  pride  to  the  captain's 
steadfast  determination  not  to  touch  a  penny  of  their 
ill-gotten  gains,  and  with  a  few  subtle  strokes  drew 
a  comparison  between  her  uncle  and  his  father  which 
he  felt  to  be  somewhat  highly  coloured.  In  ex- 
tenuation he  urged  the  rival  claims  of  Chalk  and 
Stobell. 

"  They  were  both  led  away  by  Chalk's  eloquence 
and  thirst  for  adventure,"  he  said,  as  he  walked  by 
her  side  down  the  garden. 

Miss  Drewitt  paid  no  heed.  "  And  you  will 
benefit  by  it,"  she  remarked. 

Mr.  Tredgold  drew  himself  up  with  an  air  the 
nobleness  of  which  was  somewhat  marred  by  the 
expression  of  his  eyes.  "  I  will  never  touch  a  penny 
of  it,"  he  declared.  "  I  will  be  like  the  captain.  I 
am  trying  all  I  can  to  model  myself  on  his  lines." 

The  girl  regarded  him  with  suspicion.  •  "  I  see 
no  signs  of  any  result  at  present,"  she  said,  coldly. 

Mr.  Tredgold  smiled  modestly.  "  Don't  flatter 
me,"  he  entreated. 

"  Flatter  you !  "  said  the  indignant  Prudence. 

"  On  my  consummate  powers  of  concealment," 
was  the  reply.  "  I  am  keeping  everything  dark  until 
I  am  so  like  him — in  every  particular — that  you  will 
not  know  the  difference.     I  have  often  envied  hini 

303 


Dialstone  Lane 

the  possession  of  such  a  niece.    When  the  likeness  is 
perfect " 

"Well?"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  with  impatient 
scorn. 

*'  You  will  have  two  uncles  instead  of  one,"  re- 
joined Mr.  Tredgold,  impressively. 

Miss  Drewitt,  with  marked  deliberation,  came  to 
a  pause  in  the  centre  of  the  path. 

"Are  you  going  to  continue  talking  nonsense?" 
she  inquired,  significantly. 

Mr.  Tredgold  sighed.  "  I  would  rather  talk 
sense,"  he  replied,  with  a  sudden  change  of  manner. 

"  Try,"  said  the  girl,  encouragingly. 

"  Only  it  is  so  difficult,"  said  Edward,  thought- 
fully, "  to  you." 

Miss  Drewitt  stopped  again. 

"  For  me,"  added  the  other,  hastily.  His  com- 
panion said  that  she  supposed  it  was.  She  also 
reminded  him  that  nothing  was  easy  without  prac- 
tice. 

"  And  I  ought  not  to  find  it  difficult,"  complained 
Mr.  Tredgold.  "  I  have  got  plenty  of  sense  hid- 
den away  somewhere." 

Miss  Drewitt  permitted  herself  a  faint  exclama- 
tion of  surprise.  "  It  was  not  an  empty  boast  of 
yours  just  now,  then,"  she  said. 

"Boast?"  repeated  the  other,  blankly.  "What 
boast?" 

304 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  On  your  wonderful  powers  of  concealment," 
said  Prudence,  gently. 

"  You  are  reverting  of  your  own  accord  to  the 
nonsense,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  sternly.  "  You  arc 
returning  to  the  subject  of  uncles." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,"  said  Prudence,  hotly. 

"  Before  we  leave  it — for  ever,"  said  Mr.  Tred- 
gold, dramatically,  "  I  should  like,  if  I  am  permit- 
ted, to  make  just  one  more  remark  on  the  subject. 
I  would  not,  for  all  the  wealth  of  this  world,  be  your 
uncle Where  are  you  going?  " 

"  Indoors,"  said  Miss  Drewitt,  briefly. 

"  One  moment,"  implored  the  other.  "  I  am 
just  going  to  begin  to  talk  sense." 

"  I  will  listen  when  you  have  had  some  practice," 
said  the  girl,  walking  towards  the  house. 

"  It's  impossible  to  practise  this,"  said  Edward, 
following.  "It  is  something  that  can  only  be  con- 
fided to  yourself.     Won't  you  stay?  " 

"  No,"  said  the  girl. 

"  Not  from  curiosity?  " 

Miss  Drewitt,  gazing  steadfastly  before  her, 
shook  her  head. 

"  Well,  perhaps  I  can  say  it  as  well  indoors,"  mur- 
mured Edward,  resignedly. 

"And  you'll  have  a  bigger  audience,"  said  Pru- 
dence, breathing  more  easily  as  she  reached  the 
house.     "  Uncle  is  indoors." 

305 


Dialstone  Lane 

She  passed  through  the  kitchen  and  into  the  sit- 
ting-room so  hastily  that  Captain  Bowers,  who  was 


"  I  told  him  that  you  would  like  to  hear  it." 


sitting  by  the  window  reading,  put  down  his  paper 
and  looked  up  in  surprise.     The  look  of  grim  deter- 

306 


Dialstone  Lane 

mination   on   Mr.   Tredgold's  face   did  not  escape 
him. 

"  Mr.  Tredgold  has  come  indoors  to  talk  sense," 
said  Prudence,  demurely. 

"Talk  sense?"  repeated  the  astonished  captain. 

"  That's  what  he  says,"  replied  Miss  Drewitt, 
taking  a  low  chair  by  the  captain's  side  and  gazing 
composedly  at  the  intruder.  "  I  told  him  that  you 
would  like  to  hear  it." 

She  turned  her  head  for  a  second  to  hide  her 
amusement,  and  in  that  second  Mr.  Tredgold 
favoured  the  captain  with  a  glance  the  significance  of 
which  was  at  once  returned  fourfold.  She  looked 
up  just  in  time  to  see  their  features  relaxing,  and 
moving  nearer  to  the  captain  instinctively  placed  her 
hand  upon  his  knee. 

"  I  hope,"  said  Captain  Bowers,  after  a  long  and 
somewhat  embarrassing  silence — "  I  hope  the  con- 
versation isn't  going  to  be  above  my  head?  " 

"  Mr.  Tredgold  was  talking  about  uncles,"  said 
Prudence,  maliciously. 

"Nothing  bad  about  them,  I  hope?"  said  the 
captain,  with  pretended  anxiety. 

Edward  shook  his  head.  "  I  was  merely  envying 
Miss  Drewitt  her  possession  of  you,"  he  said,  care- 
lessly, "  and  I  was  just  about  to  remark  that  I  wished 
you  were  my  uncle  too,  when  she  came  indoors.  I 
suppose  she  wanted  you  to  hear  it." 

307 


Dialstone  Lane 

Miss  Drewitt  started  violently,  and  her  cheek 
flamed  at  the  meanness  of  the  attack. 

"  I  wish  I  was,  my  lad,"  said  the  admiring  cap- 
tain. 

"  It  would  be  the  proudest  moment  of  my  life," 
said  Edward,  deliberately. 

'*  And  mine,"  said  the  captain,  stoutly. 

"  And  the  happiest." 

The  captain  bowed.  "  Same  here,"  he  said, 
graciously. 

Miss  Drewitt,  listening  helplessly  to  this  fulsome 
exchange  of  compliments,  wondered  whether  they 
had  got  to  the  end.  The  captain  looked  at  Mr. 
Tredgold  as  though  to  remind  him  that  it  was  his 
turn. 

"  You — you  were  going  to  show  me  a  photograph 
of  your  first  ship,"  said  the  latter,  after  a  long 
pause.     "  Don't  trouble  if  it's  upstairs." 

"  It's  no  trouble,"  said  the  captain,  briskly. 

He  rose  to  his  feet  and  the  hand  of  the  indignant 
Prudence,  dislodged  from  his  knee,  fell  listlessly  by 
her  side.  She  sat  upright,  with  her  pale,  composed 
face  turned  towards  Mr.  Tredgold.  Her  eyes  were 
scornful  and  her  lips  slightly  parted.  Before  these 
signs  his  courage  flickered  out  and  left  him  speech- 
less. Even  commonplace  statements  of  fact  were 
denied  him.  At  last  in  sheer  desperation  he  referred 
to  the  loudness  of  the  clock's  ticking. 

308 


C^ialstone  Lane 

"  It  seems  to  me  to  be  the  same  as  usual,"  said  the 
girl,  with  a  slight  emphasis  on  the  pronoun. 

The  clock  ticked  on  undisturbed.  Upstairs  the 
amiable  captain  did  his  part  nobly.  Drawers  opened 
and  closed  noisily;  doors  shut  and  lids  of  boxes 
slammed.  The  absurdity  of  the  situation  became 
unbearable,  and  despite  her  indignation  at  the  treat- 
ment she  had  received  Miss  Drewitt  felt  a  strong  in- 
clination to  laugh.  She  turned  her  head  swiftly  and 
looked  out  of  window,  and  the  next  moment  Ed- 
;v^ard  Tredgold  crossed  and  took  the  captain's  empty 
chair. 

"Shall  I  call  him  down?"  he  asked.  In  a  low 
voice. 

"  Call  him  down?  "  repeated  the  girl,  coldly,  but 
without  turning  her  head.     "  Yes,  if  you " 

A  loud  crash  overhead  interrupted  her  sentence. 
It  was  evident  that  in  his  zeal  the  captain  had  pulled 
out  a  loaded  drawer  too  far  and  gone  over  with  it. 
Slapping  sounds,  as  of  a  man  dusting  himself  down, 
followed,  and  it  was  obvious  that  Miss  Drewitt  was 
only  maintaining  her  gravity  by  a  tremendous  effort. 
Much  emboldened  by  this  fact  the  young  man  took 
her  hand. 

"  Mr.  Tredgold !  "  she  said,  in  a  stifled  voice. 

Undismayed  by  his  accident  the  indefatigable 
captain  was  at  it  again,  and  in  face  of  the  bustle  up- 
stairs Prudence  Drewitt  was  afraid  to  trust  herself 

309 


Dialstone  Lane 

to  say  more.  She  sat  silent  with  her  head  resolutely 
averted,  but  Edward  took  comfort  in  the  fact  that 
she  had  forgotten  to  withdraw  her  hand. 

"  Bless  him !  "  he  said,  fervently,  a  little  later,  as 
the  captain's  foot  was  heard  heavily  on  the  stair. 
"  Does  he  think  we  are  deaf?  " 


310 


CHAPTER  XXII 

MUCH  to  the  surprise  of  their  friends,  who 
had  not  expected  them  home  until  No- 
vember or  December,  telegrams  were 
received  from  the  adventurers,  one  day  towards  the 
end  of  September,  announcing  that  they  had  landed 
at  the  Albert  Docks  and  were  on  their  way  home  by 
the  earliest  train.  The  most  agreeable  explanation 
of  so  short  a  voyage  was  that,  having  found  the 
treasure,  they  had  resolved  to  return  home  by 
steamer,  leaving  the  Fair  Emily  to  return  at  her 
leisure.  But  Captain  Bowers,  to  whom  Mrs.  Chalk 
propounded  this  solution,  suggested  several  others. 

He  walked  down  to  the  station  in  the  evening  to 
see  the  train  come  in,  his  curiosity  as  to  the  bearing 
and  general  state  of  mind  of  the  travellers  refusing 
to  be  denied.  He  had  intended  to  witness  the  arrival 
from  a  remote  corner  of  the  platform,  but  to  his 
surprise  it  was  so  thronged  with  sightseers  that  the 
precaution  was  unnecessary.  The  news  of  the  return 
had  spread  like  wildfire,  and  half  Binchester  had 
congregated  to  welcome  their  fellow-townsmen  and 
congratulate  them  upon  their  romantically  acquired 
wealth. 

311 


Dialstone  Lane 

Despite  the  crowd  the  captain  involuntarily  shrank 
back  as  the  train  rattled  into  the  station.  The  car- 
riage  containing   the   travellers    stopped   almost   m. 


"  Half  Binchester  had  congregated  to  welcome  their  fellow-townsmen.'* 

front  of  him,  and  their  consternation  and  annoyance 
at  the  extent  of  their  reception  were  plainly  visible. 
Bronzed  and  healthy-looking,  they  stepped  out  on 
to  the  platform,  and  after  a  brief  greeting  to  Mrs. 
Chalk  and  Mrs.  Stobell  led  the  way  in  some  haste  to 

312 


Dialstone  Lane 

the  exit.  The  crowd  pressed  close  behind,  and  In- 
quiries as  to  the  treasure  and  its  approximate  value 
broke  clamorously  upon  the  ears  of  the  maddened 
Mr.  Stobell.  Friends  of  many  years  who  sought 
for  particulars  were  shouldered  aside,  and  it  was 
left  to  Mr.  Chalk,  who  struggled  along  in  the  rear 
with  his  wife,  to  announce  that  they  had  been  ship- 
wrecked. 

Captain  Bowers,  who  had  jusi.  caught  the  word, 
heard  the  full  particulars  from  him  next  day.  For 
once  the  positions  were  reversed,  and  Mr.  Chalk, 
who  had  so  often  sat  in  that  room  listening  to  the 
captain's  yarns,  swelled  with  pride  as  he  noted  the 
rapt  fashion  in  which  the  captain  listened  to  his. 
The  tale  of  the  shipwreck  he  regarded  as  a  disagree- 
able necessity:  a  piece  of  paste  flaunting  itself  among 
gems.  In  a  few  words  he  told  how  the  Fair  Emily 
crashed  on  to  a  reef  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  and 
how,  owing  to  the  darkness  and  confusion,  the  boat 
into  which  he  had  got  with  Stobell  and  Tredgold  was 
cast  adrift;  how  a  voice  raised  to  a  shriek  cried  to 
them  to  pull  away,  and  how  a  minute  afterwards  the 
schooner  disappeared  with  all  hands. 

"  It  almost  unnerved  me,"  he  said,  turning  to  Miss 
Drewitt,  who  was  listening  Intently. 

"  You  are  sure  she  went  down,  I  suppose?  "  said 
the  captain;  "she  didn't  just  disappear  in  the  dark- 
ness? " 

313 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Sank  like  a  stone,"  said  Mr.  Chalk,  decidedly. 
*'  Our  boat  was  nearly  swamped  in  the  vortex.  For- 
tunately, the  sea  was  calm,  and  when  day  broke  we 
saw  a  small  island  about  three  miles  away  on  our 
weather-beam." 

"  Where?  "  inquired  Edward  Tredgold,  who  had 
just  looked  in  on  the  way  to  the  office. 

Mr.  Chalk  explained. 

"  You  tell  the  story  much  better  than  my  father 
does,"  said  Edward,  nodding.  "  From  the  way  he 
tells  it  one  might  think  that  you  had  the  island  in  the 
boat  with  you." 

Mr.  Chalk  started  nervously.  "  It  was  three 
miles  away  on  our  weather-beam,"  he  repeated,  "  the 
atmosphere  clear  and  the  sea  calm.  We  sat  down  to 
a  steady  pull,  and  made  the  land  in  a  little  under  the 
hour." 

"  Who  did  the  pulling?  "  inquired  Edward,  casu- 
ally. 

Mr.  Chalk  started  again,  and  wondered  who  had 
done  it  in  Mr.  Tredgold's  version.  He  resolved  to 
see  him  as  soon  as  possible  and  arrange  details. 

"  Most  of  us  took  a  turn  at  it,"  he  said,  evasively, 
"  and  those  who  didn't  encouraged  the  others." 

*'  Most  of  you !  "  exclaimed  the  bewildered  cap- 
tain; "  and  those  who  didn't — but  how  many ?  " 

"  The  events  of  that  night  are  somewhat  misty," 
interrupted  Mr.  Chalk,  hastily.     "  The  suddennes* 

314 


Dialstone  Lane 

of  the  calamity  and  the  shock  of  losing  our  ship- 
mates  " 

"  It's  wonderful  to  me  that  you  can  remember  so 
much,"  said  Edward,  with  a  severe  glance  at  the 
captain. 

Mr.  Chalk  paid  no  heed.  Having  reached  the 
island,  the  rest  was  truth  and  plain  sailing.  He  de- 
scribed their  life  there  until  they  were  taken  off  by 
a  trading  schooner  from  Auckland,  and  how  for 
three  months  they  cruised  with  her  among  the  isl- 
ands. He  spoke  learnedly  of  atolls,  copra,  and  mis- 
sionaries, and,  referring  for  a  space  to  the  Fijian 
belles,  thought  that  their  charms  had  been  much 
overrated.  Edward  Tredgold,  waiting  until  the 
three  had  secured  berths  in  the  s.s.  Silver  Star,  trad- 
ing between  Auckland  and  London,  took  his  de- 
parture. 

Miss  Vickers,  who  had  been  spending  the  day 
with  a  friend  at  Dutton  Priors,  and  had  missed  the 
arrival  in  consequence,  heard  of  the  disaster  in  a 
mingled  state  of  wrath  and  despair.  The  hopes  of 
a  year  were  shattered  in  a  second,  and,  rejecting  with 
fierceness  the  sympathy  of  her  family,  she  went  up 
to  her  room  and  sat  brooding  in  the  darkness. 

She  came  down  the  next  morning,  pale  from  want 
of  sleep.  Mr.  Vickers,  who  was  at  breakfast,  eyed 
her  curiously  until,  meeting  her  gaze  in  return,  he 
blotted  it  out  with  a  tea-cup. 

315 


Dialstone  Lane 

**  When  you've  done  staring,"  said  his  daughter, 
"  you  can  go  upstairs  and  make  yourself  tidy." 
"  Tidy?  "  repeated  Mr.  Vickers.     "  What  for?  " 


"  •  Halloa!     What  do  you  want  ?  *  he  inquired.** 

"  I'm  going  to  see  those  three,"  replied  Selina, 
grimly;  "  and  I  want  a  witness.  And  I  may  as  well 
have  a  clean  one  while  I'm  about  it." 

Mr.  Vickers  darted  upstairs  with  alacrity,  and 
having  made  himself  approximately  tidy  smoked  a 

316 


Dialstone  Lane 

morning  pipe  on  the  doorstep  while  his  daughter  got 
ready.  An  air  of  importance  and  dignity  suitable  to 
the  occasion  partly  kept  off  inquirers. 

"  We'll  go  and  see  Mr.  Stobell  first,"  said  his 
daughter,  as  she  came  out. 

"  Very  good,"  said  the  witness,  "  but  if  you  asked 
my  advice " 

"You  just  keep  quiet,"  said  Selina,  irritably; 
"  I've  not  gone  quite  off  my  head  yet.  And  don't 
hum!" 

Mr.  Vickers  lapsed  into  offended  silence,  and, 
arrived  at  Mr.  Stobell's,  followed  his  daughter  into 
the  hall  in  so  stately  a  fashion  that  the  maid — lately 
of  Mint  Street — implored  him  not  to  eat  her.  Miss 
Vickers  replied  for  him,  and  the  altercation  that  en- 
sued was  only  quelled  by  the  appearance  of  Mr.  Sto- 
bell at  the  dining-room  door. 

"Halloa!  What  do  you  want?"  he  inquired, 
staring  at  the  intruders. 

"  I've  come  for  my  share,"  said  Miss  Vickers,  eye- 
ing him  fiercely. 

"  Share?  "  repeated  Mr.  Stobell.  "  Share?  Why, 
we've  been  shipwrecked.     Haven't  you  heard?  " 

"  Perhaps  you  came  to  my  house  when  I  wasn't 
at  home,"  retorted  Miss  Vickers,  in  a  trembling  but 
sarcastic  voice.  "  I  want  to  hear  about  it.  That's 
what  I've  come  for." 

She  walked  to  the  dining-room  and,  as  Mr.  Sto- 


Dialstone   Lane 

bell  still  stood  in  the  doorway,  pushed  past  him,  fol- 
lowed by  her  father.  Mr.  Stobell,  after  a  short  de- 
liberation, returned  to  his  seat  at  the  breakfast-table, 
and  in  an  angry  and  disjointed  fashion  narrated 
the  fate  of  the  Fair  Emily  and  their  subsequent  ad- 
ventures. Miss  Vickers  heard  him  to  an  end  in 
silence. 

"  What  time  was  it  when  the  ship  struck  on  the 
rock?  "  she  inquired. 

Mr.  Stobell  stared  at  her.  "  Eleven  o'clock,"  he 
said,  gruffly. 

Miss  Vickers  made  a  note  in  a  little  red-covered 
memorandum-book. 

"  Who  got  in  the  boat  first?  "  she  demanded. 

Mr.  Stobell's  lips  twisted  in  a  faint  grin.  "  Chalk 
did,"  he  said,  with  relish. 

Miss  Vickers,  nodding  at  the  witness  to  call  his 
attention  to  the  fact,  made  another  note. 

"  How  far  was  the  boat  off  when  the  ship  sank?  " 

"  Here,  look  here — "  began  the  indignant  Stobell. 

"  How  far  was  the  boat  off?  "  interposed  the  wit- 
ness, severely;  "  that's  what  we  want  to  know." 

"  You  hold  your  tongue,"  said  his  daughter. 
"  I'm  doing  the  talking.  How  far  was  the  boat 
off?" 

"  About  four  yards,"  replied  Mr.  Stobell.  "  And 
now  look  here;  if  you  want  to  know  any  more,  you 
go  and  see  Mr.  Chalk.     I'm  sick  and  tired  of  the 

318 


Dialstone  Lane 

whok  business.     And  you'd  no  right  to  talk  about 
it  while  we  were  away." 

"  I've  got  the  paper  you  signed  and  I'm  going  to 
know  the  truth,"  said  Miss  Vickers,  fiercely.  "  It's 
my  right.    What  was  the  size  of  the  island?  " 

Mr.  Stobell  maintained  an  obstinate  silence. 

"  What  colour  did  you  say  these  'ere  Fidgetty 
islanders  was?"  inquired  Mr.  Vickers,  with  trucu- 
lent curiosity. 

"  You  get  out,"  roared  Stobell,  rising.  "  At 
once.     D'ye  hear  me?" 

Mr.  Vickers  backed  with  some  haste  towards  the 
door.     His  daughter  followed  slowly. 

"  I  don't  believe  you,"  she  said,  turning  sharply 
on  Stobell.  "  I  don't  believe  the  ship  was  wrecked 
at  all." 

Mr.  Stobell  sat  gasping  at  her.  "What?"  he 
stammered.     "  Wh-a-a-tf  " 

"  I  don't  believe  it  was  wrecked,"  repeated  Selina, 
wildly.  "  You've  got  the  treasure  all  right,  and 
you're  keeping  it  quiet  and  telling  this  tale  to  do  me 
out  of  my  share.  I  haven't  done  with  you  yet.  You 
wait!" 

She  flung  out  into  the  hall,  and  Mr.  Vickers,  after 
a  lofty  glance  at  Mr.  Stobell,  followed  her  outside. 

"  And  now  we'll  go  and  hear  what  Mr.  Tredgold 
has  to  say,"  she  said,  as  they  walked  up  the  road. 
''  And  after  that,  Mr.  Chalk." 

319 


Dialstone  Lane 

Mr.  Tredgold  was  just  starting  for  the  office  when 
they  arrived,  but,  recognising  the  justice  of  Miss 
Vickers's  request  for  news,  he  stopped  and  gave  his 
version  of  the  loss  of  the  Fair  Emily.  In  several 
details  it  differed  from  that  of  Mr.  Stobell,  and  he 
looked  at  her  uneasily  as  she  took  out  pencil  and 
paper  and  made  notes. 

"  If  you  want  any  further  particulars  you  had 
better  go  and  see  Mr.  Stobell,"  he  said,  restlessly. 
*'  I  am  busy." 

"  We've  just  been  to  see  him,"  replied  Miss  Vick- 
ers,  with  an  ominous  gleam  in  her  eye.  "  You  say 
that  the  boat  was  two  or  three  hundred  yards  away 
when  the  ship  sank?  " 

*'  More  or  less,"  was  the  cautious  reply. 

"  Mr.  Stobell  said  about  half  a  mile,"  suggested 
the  wily  Selina. 

"  Well,  perhaps  that  would  be  more  correct,"  said 
the  other. 

"Half  a  mile,  then?" 

'*  Half  a  mile,"  said  Mr.  Tredgold,  nodding,  as 
she  wrote  it  down. 

"  Four  yards  was  what  Mr.  Stobell  said,"  ex- 
claimed Selina,  excitedly.  "  I've  got  it  down  here, 
and  father  heard  it.  And  you  make  the  time  it  hap- 
pened and  a  lot  of  other  things  different.  I  don't 
believe  that  you  were  any  more  shipwrecked  than  I 
was." 

320 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  Not  so  much,"  added  the  irrepressible  Mr.  Vick- 
ers. 

Mr.  Tredgold  walked  to  the  door.  "  I  am  busy," 
he  said,  curtly.     "  Good  morning." 

Miss  Vickers  passed  him  with  head  erect,  and  her 
small  figure  trembling  with  rage  and  determination. 
By  the  time  she  had  cross-examined  Mr.  Chalk  her 
wildest  suspicions  were  confirmed.  His  account  dif- 
fered in  several  particulars  from  the  others,  and  his 
alarm  and  confusion  when  taxed  with  the  discrepan- 
cies were  unmistakable. 

Binchester  rang  with  the  story  of  her  wrongs,  and, 
being  furnished  with  three  different  accounts  of  the 
same  incident,  seemed  inclined  to  display  a  little  par- 
donable curiosity.  To  satisfy  this,  intimates  of  the 
gentlemen  most  concerned  were  provided  with  an 
official  version,  which  Miss  Vickers  discovered  after 
a  little  research  was  compiled  for  the  most  part  by 
adding  all  the  statements  together  and  dividing  by 
three.  She  paid  another  round  of  visits  to  tax  them 
with  the  fact,  and,  strong  in  the  justice  of  her  cause, 
even  followed  them  in  the  street  demanding  her 
money. 

"  There's  one  comfort,"  she  said  to  the  depressed 
Mr.  Tasker,  "  I've  got  you,  Joseph.  They  can't 
take  you  away  from  me." 

"  There's  nobody  could  do  that,"  responded  Mr. 
Tasker,  with  a  sigh  of  resignation. 

321 


Dialstone   Lane 

"  And  if  I  had  to  choose,"  continued  Miss  Vickers, 
putting  her  arm  round  his  waist,  "  I'd  sooner  have 
you  than  a  hundred  thousand  pounds." 

Mr.  Tasker  sighed  again  at  the  idea  of  an  article 
estimated  at  so  high  a  figure  passing  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Sehna  Vickers.  In  a  voice  broken  with  emo- 
tion he  urged  her  to  persevere  in  her  claims  to  a 
fortune  which  he  felt  would  alone  make  his  fate 
tolerable.     The  unsuspecting  Selina  promised. 

"  She'll  quiet  down  in  time,"  said  Captain  Bowers 
to  Mr.  Chalk,  after  the  latter  had  been  followed 
nearly  all  the  way  to  Dialstone  Lane  by  Miss  Vick- 
ers, airing  her  grievance  and  calling  upon  him  to 
remedy  it.  "  Once  she  realizes  the  fact  that  the  ship 
is  lost,  she'll  be  all  right." 

Mr.  Chalk  looked  unconvinced.  "  She  doesn't 
want  to  realize  it,"  he  said,  shaking  his  head. 

"  She'll  be  all  right  in  time,"  repeated  the  captain; 
*'  and  after  all,  you  know,"  he  added,  with  gentle 
severity,  "  you  deserve  to  suffer  a  little.  You  had 
no  business  with  that  map." 


322 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

ON  a  fine  afternoon  towards  the  end  of  the 
following  month  Captain  Brisket  and  Mr. 
Duckett  sat  outside  the  Swan  and  Bottle 
Inn,  Holemouth,  a  small  port  forty  miles  distant 
from  Biddlecombe.  The  day  was  fine,  with  just  a 
touch  of  crispness  in  the  air  to  indicate  the  waning 
of  the  year,  and,  despite  a  position  regarded  by  the 
gloomy  Mr.  Duckett  as  teeming  with  perils,  the  cap- 
tain turned  a  bright  and  confident  eye  on  the  Fair 
Emily,  anchored  in  the  harbour. 

"  We  ought  to  have  gone  straight  to  Biddle- 
combe," said  Mr.  Duckett,  following  his  glance;  "  it 
would  have  looked  better.  Not  that  anything'll 
make  much  difference." 

"  And  everybody  in  a  flutter  of  excitement  tele- 
graphing off  to  the  owners,"  commented  the  captain. 
"No,  we'll  tell  our  story  first;  quiet  and  comforta- 
ble-like.     Say  it  over  again." 

"  I've  said  it  three  times,"  objected  Mr.  Duckett; 
"  and  each  time  it  sounds  more  unreal  than  ever," 

"  It'll  be  all  right,"  said  Brisket,  puffing  at  his 
cigar.     "  Besides,  we've  got  no  choice.     It's  that  or 

323 


Dialstone  Lane 

ruin,  and  there's  nobody  within  thousands  of  miles 
to  contradict  us.  We  bring  both  the  ship  and  the 
map  back  to  'em.     What  more  can  they  ask?  " 


"  '  It'll  be  all  right,'  said  Brisket,  puffing  at  his  cigar." 

'*  You'll  soon  know,"  said  the  pessimistic  Mr. 
Duckett.  "  I  wonder  whether  they'll  have  another 
shot  for  the  treasure  when  they  get  that  map  back?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  send  that  Captain  Bowers  out 

324 


Dialstone  Lane 

searching  for  it,"  said  Brisket,  scowling,  "  and  keep 
him  out  there  till  he  finds  it.  It's  all  his  fault.  If 
it  hadn't  been  for  his  cock-and-bull  story  we  shouldn't 
ha'  done  what  we  did.  Hanging's  too  good  for 
him." 

'*  I  suppose  it's  best  for  them  not  to  know  that 
there's  no  such  island?  "  hazarded  Mr.  Duckett. 

"  O'  course,"  snapped  his  companion.  "  Looks 
better  for  us,  don't  it,  giving  them  back  a  map  worth 
half  a  million.  Now  go  through  the  yarn  again  and 
I'll  see  whether  I  can  pick  any  holes  in  it.  The  train 
goes  in  half  an  hour." 

Mr.  Duckett  sighed  and,  first  emptying  his  mug, 
began  a  monotonous  recital.  Brisket  listened  atten- 
tively, 

"  We  were  down  below  asleep  when  the  men  came 
running  down  and  overpowered  us.  They  weighed 
anchor  at  night,  and  following  morning  made  you, 
by  threats,  promise  to  steer  them  to  the  island.  You 
told  me  on  the  quiet  that  you'd  die  before  you  be- 
trayed the  owners'  trust.  How  did  they  know  that 
the  island  the  gentlemen  were  on  wasn't  the  right 
one?  Because  Sam  Betts  was  standing  by  when  you 
told  me  you'd  made  a  mistake  in  your  reckoning  and 
said  we'd  better  go  ashore  and  tell  them." 

"  That's  all  right  so  far,  I  think,"  said  Brisket, 
nodding. 

"  We  sailed  about  and  tried  island  after  island 
325 


Dialstone  Lane 

just  to  satisfy  the  men  and  seize  our  opportunity," 
continued  Mr.  Duckett,  with  a  weary  air.  "  At  last, 
one  day,  when  they  were  all  drunk  ashore,  we  took 
the  map,  shipped  these  natives,  and  sailed  back  to 
the  island  to  rescue  the  owners.  Found  they'd  gone 
when  we  got  there.  Mr.  Stobell's  boot  and  an  old 
pair  of  braces  produced  in  proof." 

"  Better  wrap  it  up  in  a  piece  o'  newspaper,"  said 
Brisket,  stooping  and  producing  the  relic  in  question 
from  under  the  table. 

"  Shipped  four  white  men  at  Viti  Levu  and  sailed 
for  home,"  continued  Mr.  Duckett.  "  Could  have 
had  more,  but  wanted  to  save  owners'  pockets,  and 
worked  like  A.B.'s  ourselves  to  do  so." 

"  Let  'em  upset  that  if  they  can,"  said  Brisket, 
with  a  confident  smile.  "  The  crew  are  scattered, 
and  if  they  happened  to  get  one  of  them  it's  only 
his  word  against  ours.  Wait  a  bit.  How  did  the 
crew  know  of  the  treasure?  " 

"  Chalk  told  you,"  responded  the  obedient  Duck- 
ett. "  And  if  he  told  you — and  he  can't  deny  it — 
why  not  them?  " 

Captain  Briskett  nodded  approval.  "  It's  all  right 
as  far  as  I  can  see,"  he  said,  cautiously.  "  But  mind. 
Leave  the  telling  of  it  to  me.  You  can  just  chip  in 
with  little  bits  here  and  there.  Now  let's  get  under 
way." 

He  threw  away  the  stump  of  his  cigar  and  rose, 
326 


Dialstone  Lane 

turning  as  he  reached  the  corner  for  a  lingering 
glance  at  the  Fair  Emily. 

"  Scrape  her  and  clean  her  and  she'd  be  as  good 
as  ever,"  he  said,  with  a  sigh.  "  She's  just  the  sort 
o'  little  craft  you  and  me  could  ha'  done  with,  Peter." 

They  had  to  change  twice  on  the  way  to  Binches- 
ter,  and  at  each  stopping-place  Mr.  Duckett,  a  prey 
to  nervousness,  suggested  the  wisdom  of  disappear- 
ing while  they  had  the  opportunity. 

"  Disappear  and  starve,  I  suppose?  "  grunted  the 
scornful  Brisket.  "  What  about  my  certificate?  and 
yours,  too?     I  tell  you  it's  our  only  chance." 

He  walked  up  the  path  to  Mr.  Chalk's  house  with 
a  swagger  which  the  mate  endeavoured  in  vain  to 
imitate.  Mr.  Chalk  was  out,  but  the  captain,  learn- 
ing that  he  was  probably  to  be  found  at  Dialstone 
Lane,  decided  to  follow  him  there  rather  than  first 
take  his  tidings  to  Stobell  or  Tredgold.  With  the 
idea  of  putting  Mr.  Duckett  at  his  ease  he  talked 
on  various  matters  as  they  walked,  and,  arrived  at 
Dialstone  Lane,  even  stopped  to  point  out  the  pictu- 
resque appearance  its  old  houses  made  in  the  moon- 
light. 

"  This  is  where  the  old  pirate  who  made  the  map 
lives,"  he  whispered,  as  he  reached  the  door.  "  If 
he''s  got  anything  to  say  I'll  tackle  him  about  that. 
Now,  pull  yourself  together!  " 

He  knocked  loudly  on  the  door  with  his  fist.  A 
327 


Dialstone  Lane 

murmur  of  voices  stopped  suddenly,  and,  in  response 
to  a  gruff  command  from  within,  he  opened  the  door 
and  stood  staring  at  all  three  of  his  victims,  who 
were  seated  at  the  table  playing  whist  with  Captain 
Bowers. 

The  three  gentlemen  stared  back  in  return.  Tred- 
gold  and  Chalk  had  half  risen  from  their  seats;  Mr. 
Stobell,  with  both  arms  on  the  table,  leaned  forward, 
and  regarded  him  open-mouthed. 

"  Good  evening,  gentlemen  all,"  said  Captain 
Brisket,  in  a  hearty  voice. 

He  stepped  forward,  and  seizing  Mr.  Chalk's 
hand  wrung  it  fervently. 

"  It's  good  for  sore  eyes  to  see  you  again,  sir," 
he  said.     "  Look  at  him,  Peter  I  " 

Mr.  Duckett,  ignoring  this  reflection  on  his  per- 
sonal appearance,  stepped  quietly  inside  the  door, 
and  stood  smiling  nervously  at  the  company. 

"  It's  him,"  said  the  staring  Mr.  Stobell,  drawing 
a  deep  breath.     "  It's  Brisket." 

He  pushed  his  chair  back  and,  rising  slawly  from 
the  table,  confronted  him.  Captain  Brisket,  red- 
faced  and  confident,  stared  up  at  him  composedly. 

"  It's  Brisket,"  said  Mr.  Stobell  again,  in  a  voice 
of  deep  content.  '*  Turn  the  key  in  that  door. 
Chalk." 

Mr.  Chalk  hesitated,  but  Brisket,  stepping  to  the 
door,  turned  the  key  and,  placing  It  on  the  table, 

328 


Dialstone   Lane 

returned  to  his  place  by  the  side  of  the  mate.  Ex- 
cept for  a  hard  glint  in  his  eye  his  face  still  retained 
its  smiling  composure, 

"  And  now,"  said  Stobell,  "  you  and  me  have  got 
a  word  or  two  to  say  to  each' other.  I  haven't  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  ugly  face  since " 

"  Since  the  disaster,"  interrupted  Tredgold,  loudly 
and  hastily. 

"  Since  the " 

Mr.  Stobell  suddenly  remembered.  For  a  few 
moments  he  stood  irresolute,  and  then,  with  an  ex- 
traordinary contortion  of  visage,  dropped  into  his 
chair  again  and  sat  gazing  blankly  before  him. 

"  Me  and  Peter  Duckett  only  landed  to-day,"  said 
Brisket,  "  and  we  came  on  to  see  you  by  the  first 
train  we  could " 

"  I  know,"  said  Tredgold,  starting  up  and  tak- 
ing his  hand,  *'  and  we're  delighted  to  see  you  are 
safe.     And  Mr.  Duckett?" 

He  found  Mr.  Duckett's  hand  after  a  little 
trouble — the  owner  seeming  to  think  that  he  wanted 
it  for  some  unlawful  purpose — and  shook  that. 
Captain  Brisket,  considerably  taken  aback  by  this 
performance,  gazed  at  him  with  suspicion. 

"  You  didn't  go  down  with  your  ship,  then,  after 
all,"  said  Captain  Bowers,  who  had  been  looking  on 
with  much  interest. 

Amazement  held  Brisket  dumb.  He  turned  and 
329 


Dialstone  Lane 

eyed  Duckett  inquiringly.  Then  Tredgold,  with  his 
back  to  the  others,  caught  his  eye  and  frowned  sig- 
nificantly. 

*'  If  Captain  Brisket  didn't  go  down  with  it  I  am 


*'  Then   Tredgold,    with  his  back   to  the  others,    caught  his  eye  and  frowned 
significantly. '  * 

sure  that  he  was  the  last  man  to  leav^e  it,"  he  said, 
kindly;  "and  Mr.  Duckett  last  but  one." 

Mr.  Duckett,  distrustful  of  these  compliments, 
cast  an  agonized  glance  at  the  door. 

"  Stobell  was  a  bit  rough  just  now,"  said  Tred- 
330 


Dialstone  Lane 

gold,  with  another  warning  glance  at  Brisket,  "  but 
he  didn't  like  being  shipwrecked." 

Brisket  gazed  at  the  door  In  his  turn.  He  had 
an  uncomfortable  feeling  that  he  was  being  played 
with. 

"  It's  nothing  much  to  like,"  he  said,  at  last, 
but " 

"  Tell  us  how  you  escaped,"  said  Tredgold;  "  or, 
perhaps,"  he  continued,  hastily,  as  Brisket  was 
about  to  speak — "  perhaps  you  would  like  first  to 
hear  how  we  did." 

"  Perhaps  that  would  be  better,"  said  the  per- 
plexed Brisket. 

He  nudged  the  mate  with  his  elbow,  and  Mr. 
Tredgold,  still  keeping  him  under  the  spell  of  his 
eye,  began  with  great  rapidity  to  narrate  the  circum- 
stances attending  the  loss  of  the  Fair  Emily.  After 
one  irrepressible  grunt  of  surprise  Captain  Brisket 
listened  without  moving  a  muscle,  but  the  changes 
on  Mr.  Duckett's  face  were  so  extraordinary  that 
on  several  occasions  the  narrator  faltered  and  lost 
the  thread  of  his  discourse.  At  such  times  Mr. 
Chalk  took  up  the  story,  and  once,  when  both  seemed 
at  a  loss,  a  growling  contribution  came  from  Mr. 
Stobell. 

"  Of  course,  you  got  away  In  the  other  boat," 
said  Tredgold,  nervously,  when  he  had  finished. 

Brisket  looked  round  shrewdly,  his  wits  hard  at 
331 


Dialstone  Lane 

work.  Already  the  advantages  of  adopting  a  story 
which  he  supposed  to  have  been  concocted  for  the 
benefit  of  Captain  Bowers  were  beginning  to  multi- 
ply in  his  ready  brain. 

"  And  didn't  see  us  owing  to  the  darkness," 
prompted  Tredgold,  with  a  glance  at  Mr.  Joseph 
Tasker,  who  was  lingering  by  the  door  after  bring- 
ing in  some  whisky. 

"  You're  quite  right,  sir,"  said  Brisket,  after  a 
trying  pause.     "  I  didn't  see  you." 

Unasked  he  took  a  chair,  and  with  crossed  legs 
and  folded  arms  surveyed  the  company  with  a  broad 
smile. 

"  You're  a  fine  sort  of  shipmaster,"  exclaimed  the 
indignant  Captain  Bowers.  "  First  you  throw  away 
your  ship,  and  then  you  let  your  passengers  shift  for 
themselves." 

"  I  am  responsible  to  my  owners,"  said  Brisket. 
*'  Have  you  any  fault  to  find  with  me,  gentlemen?  " 
he  demanded,  turning  on  them  with  a  frown. 

Tredgold  and  Chalk  hastened  to  reassure  him. 

"  In  the  confusion  the  boat  got  adrift,"  said  Bris- 
ket. "  You've  got  their  own  word  for  it.  Not 
that  they  didn't  behave  well  for  landsmen :  Mr. 
Chalk's  pluck  was  wonderful,  and  Mr.  Tredgold 
was  all  right." 

Mr.  Stobell  turned  a  dull  but  ferocious  eye  upon 
him. 

332 


Dialstone  Lane 

"  And  you  all  got  off  in  the  other  boat,"  said 
Tredgold.     "  I'm  very  glad." 

Captain  Brisket  looked  at  him,  but  made  no  reply. 
The  problem  of  how  to  make  the  best  of  the  situa- 
tion was  occupying  all  his  attention. 

"  Me  and  Peter  Duckett  would  be  glad  of  some 
of  our  pay,"  he  said,  at  last. 

"  Pay?  "  repeated  Tredgold,  in  a  dazed  voice. 

Brisket  looked  at  him  again,  and  then  gave  a 
significant  glance  in  the  direction  of  Captain  Bow- 
ers. "  We'd  like  twenty  pounds  on  account — now," 
he  said,  calmly. 

Tredgold  looked  hastily  at  his  friends.  *'  Come 
and  see  me  to-morrow,"  he  said,  nervously,  "  and 
we'll  settle  things." 

"  You  can  send  us  the  rest,"  said  Brisket,  "  but 
we  want  that  now.     We're  off  to-night." 

"  But  we  must  see  you  again,"  said  Tredgold, 
who  was  anxious  to  make  arrangements  about  the 
schooner.  "  We — we've  got  a  lot  of  things  to  talk 
about.     The — the  ship,  for  instance." 

"  I'll  talk  about  her  now  if  you  want  me  to,"  said 
Brisket,  with  unpleasant  readiness.  "  Meantime, 
we'd  like  that  money." 

Fortunately  —  or  unfortunately  —  Tredgold  had 
been  to  his  bank  that  morning,  and,  turning  a  deaf 
ear  to  the  expostulations  of  Captain  Bowers,  he 
produced  his  pocketbook,   and  after  a  consultation 

333 


Diaistone   Lane 

with  Mr.  Chalk,  and  an  attempt  at  one  with  the 
raging  Stobell,  counted  out  the  money  and  handed 
it  over. 

"  And  there  is  an  I.O.U.  for  the  remainder,"  he 
said,  with  an  attempt  at  a  smile,  as  he  wrote  on  a 
slip  of  paper. 

Brisket  took  it  with  pleased  surprise,  and  the 
mate,  leaning  against  his  shoulder,  read  the  con- 
tents:  "  Where  is  the  '  Fair  Emily  '?  " 

"  You  might  as  well  give  me  a  receipt,*'  said 
Tredgold,  significantly,  as  he  passed  over  pencil  and 
paper. 

Captain  Brisket  thanked  him  and,  sucking  the 
pencil,  eyed  him  thoughtfully.  Then  he  bent  to  the 
table  and  wrote. 

"  You  sign  here,  Peter,"  he  said. 

Mr.  Tredgold  smiled  at  the  precaution,  but  the 
smile  faded  when  he  took  the  paper.  It  was  a  cor- 
rectly worded  receipt  for  twenty  pounds.  He  began 
to  think  that  he  had  rated  the  captain's  intelligence 
somewhat  too  highly. 

"  Ah,  we've  had  a  hard  time  of  it,"  said  Brisket, 
putting  the  notes  into  his  breast-pocket  and  staring 
hard  at  Captain  Bowers.  "  When  that  little  craft 
went  down,  of  course  I  went  down  with  her.  How 
I  got  up  I  don't  know,  but  when  I  did  there  was  Peter 
hanging  over  the  side  of  the  boat  and  pulling  me  in 
by  the  hair." 

334 


Dialstone  Lane 

He  paused  to  pat  the  mate  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Unfortunately  for  us  we  took  a  different  direc- 
tion to  you,  sir,"  he  continued,  turning  to  Tredgold, 
"  and  we  were  pulling  for  six  days  before  we  were 
picked  up  by  a  barque  bound  for  Melbourne.  By 
the  time  she  sighted  us  we  were  reduced  to  half  a 
biscuit  a  day  each  and  two  teaspoonfuls  o'  water, 
and  not  a  man  grumbled.     Did  they,  Peter?  " 

"  Not  a  man,"  said  Mr.  Duckett. 

"  At  Melbourne,"  said  the  captain,  who  was  in  a 
hurry  to  be  off,  "  we  all  separated,  and  Duckett  and 
me  worked  our  way  home  on  a  cargo-boat.  We 
always  stick  together,  Peter  and  me." 

"  And  always  will,"  said  Mr.  Duckett,  with  a  lit- 
tle emotion  as  he  gazed  meaningly  at  the  captain's 
breast-pocket. 

"  When  I  think  o'  that  little  craft  lying  all  those 
fathoms  down,"  continued  the  captain,  staring  full 
at  Mr.  Tredgold,  "  it  hurts  me.  The  nicest  little 
craft  of  her  kind  I  ever  handled.  Well — so  long, 
gentlemen." 

"  We  shall  see  you  to-morrow,"  said  Tredgold, 
hastily,  as  the  captain  rose. 

Brisket  shook  his  head. 

"  Me  and  Peter  are  very  busy,"  he  said,  softly. 
"  We've  been  putting  our  little  bit  o'  savings  to- 
gether to  buy  a  schooner,  and  we  want  to  settle 
things  as  soon  as  possible." 

335 


Dialstone   Lane 

"A  schooner?"  exclaimed  Mr.  Tredgold,  with 
an  odd  look. 

Captain  Brisket  nodded  indulgently. 

*'  One  o'  the  prettiest  little  craft  you  ever  saw, 
gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  and,  if  you've  got  no  objec- 


"They  stared  solemnly  up  Dialstone  Lane." 

tion,  me  and  Peter  Duckett  thought  o'  calling  her 
the  Fair  Emily,  in  memory  of  old  times.  Peter's  a 
bit  sentimental  at  times,  but  I  don't  know  as  I  can 
blame  him  for  it.     Good  night." 

He  opened  the  door  slowly,  and  the  sentimental 
Mr.  Duckett,  still  holding  fast  to  the  parcel  con- 
taining Mr.  Stobell's  old  boot,  slipped  thankfully 
outside.      Calmly   and   deliberately   Captain   Brisket 

336 


Dialstone  Lane 

followed,  and  the  door  was  closing  behind  him  when 
it  suddenly  stopped,  and  his  red  face  was  thrust  into 
the  room  again. 

"  One  thing  is,"  he  said,  eyeing  the  speechless 
Tredgold  with  sly  relish,  "  she's  uncommonly  like 
the  Fair  Emily  we  lost.     Good  night." 

The  door  closed  with  a  snap,  but  Tredgold  and 
Chalk  made  no  move.  Glued  to  their  seats,  they 
stared  blankly  at  the  door,  until  the  rigidity  of  their 
pose  and  the  strangeness  of  their  gaze  began  to 
affect  the  slower-witted  Mr.  Stobell. 

"  Anything  wrong?  "  inquired  the  astonished  Cap- 
tain Bowers,  looking  from  one  to  the  other. 

There  was  no  reply.  Mr.  Stobell  rose  and,  after 
steadying  himself  for  a  moment  with  his  hands  on 
the  table,  blundered  heavily  towards  the  door.  As 
though  magnetized,  Tredgold  and  Chalk  followed 
and,  standing  beside  him  on  the  footpath,  stared  sol- 
emnly up  Dialstone  Lane. 

Captain  Brisket  and  his  faithful  mate  had  dis- 
appeared. 


THE  END 


337 


AA      000  266  405    0 


